GB2168188A

GB2168188A - A laminated plastic map packaging system

Info

Publication number: GB2168188A
Application number: GB08430725A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Short; Roger Houston; Ian Mackie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-12-05
Filing date: 1984-12-05
Publication date: 1986-06-11
Also published as: GB8430725D0

Abstract

The system consists of map sections in a compact format, with each section protected by laminating between sheets of plastic, thus making the map easy to use whilst protecting it effectively from the elements, and allowing erasable notes and routes to be written thereon. The individual sections may contain cross-references to adjacent sections as shown. The map sections, supplied individually or in groups, may optionally be contained within a protective package, cover, or envelope which may also have openings or windows to allow use of the maps contained within. The protective package may optionally have additional sections for accessories such as compass or calculator and these additional sections may also have openings or windows. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A laminated plastic map packaging system This invention relates to the packaging of maps in a usable format, while protecting them with laminated plastic.

Maps such as walking maps and road maps are traditionally printed on large sheets of paper, folded into a convenient size. The problems associated with maps packaged in this way are: 1. Either the map has to be used fully opened out, or refolded into a smaller size, displaying the desired section.

2. If the map is being used out-of-doors, as in the case of a walking map, it is particularly vulnerable to the elements. Often it will be torn by the wind or soaked by the rain.

Sometimes it is virtually impossible to open a map up out-of-doors. It may even be totally destroyed by the elements.

In such cases, the safety of the user may be put in jeopary. For example, a hill walker or climber without a map and in worsening weather conditions could be in great danger, losing his way and perhaps his life. Equally, rescue organisations need durable, easy to use maps when searching for a lost person.

3. When a map is repeatedly folded to show the area of current interest, often being folded against the original fold direction, it becomes weak along the folds, and particularly at the corners. The result is usually a tear along the folds and 'dog-eared' corners.

4. In cramped conditions, for example in a car or a tent, an aircraft, small sailing craft, or in caves, it may be difficult to open out the map properly.

This invention proposes repackaging the large format map into small, usable size, sections (corresponding, for example, to the current folded size). The individual sections are protected within clear plastic, laminated to either side of the section. This is a wellknown technique, usually used to protect large wall maps. The map may then be sold as a package of loose sections, or supplied in some form of envelope, either purely for the purpose of packaging for sale, or such that the sections may all be kept together, with the current section on top and clearly visible.

The 'envelope' may thus be of a temporary nature, purely for the purpose of packaging for sale, or could be of a durable material such as plastic or leather, with or without a means of making one or more sections visible. The durable package could be a separate accessory item. With this concept of map presentation, it would be necessary to reference each section such that the adjoining sections can be easily located when needed.

This invention not only protects the map from the elements while making it in a usable format, but also allows route information to be written on it with a suitable, erasable marker. The proposed route can be drawn directly onto the map, on as many section as are needed. After the journey, this information may then be erased, providing a clean map again.

A further advantage of this invention is that the problem of route overlap on two or more large sheet maps is avoided. Even if the maps were sold covering the same area as previously, it is possible to take the relevant sections from two or more maps and use them together without the inconvenience of needing at times to open up two maps.

Figure 1 illustrates a typical example of the proposed system. A discrete map 'awl' is divided into convenient sections 'B1'. Each section is protected by laminating it between two thin sheets of plastic, using known current technology 'C1'. The top surface must be transparent plastic, the lower surface not necessarily so. If the map is packaged as a two-sided map, the lower surface would also have to be transparent.

Adjacent map sections may have where necessary references at their edges to the next section, or perhaps to the next map 'D1'. Map sections may also be packaged in a suitable case, Fig. 2-'A2', either purely for carrying, or with a means of seeing one (or if top and bottom, two) section(s) for easy reference. This container may also posess other sections, to hold, for example, additional items, such as a compass, some form of calculator, or any other convenient article 'B2'.

1. A map system whereby a single-sided map is packaged in small, easy to use sections, each section protected by laminating between sheets of plastic top and bottom.

2. A map system as described in 1.

above, whereby the individual map sections contain cross references to adjacent sections.

3. A map system as described in 1.

above, whereby a two-sided map is packaged in small, easy to use sections, each section protected by laminating between sheets of plastic top and bottom.

4. A map system as described in 3.

5. A map system as described in 1.

through 4. above, whereby individual sections are made available.

6. A map system as described in 1.

through 4. above, whereby the map sections are made available in groups corresponding to a larger map section.

7. A map system as described in 1.

through 6. above, supplied with a poitective package, cover, or envelope.

8. A map system as described in 1, through 6. above, supplied with a protective package, cover or envelope, which contains

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A laminated plastic map packaging system This invention relates to the packaging of maps in a usable format, while protecting them with laminated plastic. Maps such as walking maps and road maps are traditionally printed on large sheets of paper, folded into a convenient size. The problems associated with maps packaged in this way are: 1. Either the map has to be used fully opened out, or refolded into a smaller size, displaying the desired section. 2. If the map is being used out-of-doors, as in the case of a walking map, it is particularly vulnerable to the elements. Often it will be torn by the wind or soaked by the rain. Sometimes it is virtually impossible to open a map up out-of-doors. It may even be totally destroyed by the elements. In such cases, the safety of the user may be put in jeopary. For example, a hill walker or climber without a map and in worsening weather conditions could be in great danger, losing his way and perhaps his life. Equally, rescue organisations need durable, easy to use maps when searching for a lost person. 3. When a map is repeatedly folded to show the area of current interest, often being folded against the original fold direction, it becomes weak along the folds, and particularly at the corners. The result is usually a tear along the folds and 'dog-eared' corners. 4. In cramped conditions, for example in a car or a tent, an aircraft, small sailing craft, or in caves, it may be difficult to open out the map properly. This invention proposes repackaging the large format map into small, usable size, sections (corresponding, for example, to the current folded size). The individual sections are protected within clear plastic, laminated to either side of the section. This is a wellknown technique, usually used to protect large wall maps. The map may then be sold as a package of loose sections, or supplied in some form of envelope, either purely for the purpose of packaging for sale, or such that the sections may all be kept together, with the current section on top and clearly visible. The 'envelope' may thus be of a temporary nature, purely for the purpose of packaging for sale, or could be of a durable material such as plastic or leather, with or without a means of making one or more sections visible. The durable package could be a separate accessory item. With this concept of map presentation, it would be necessary to reference each section such that the adjoining sections can be easily located when needed. This invention not only protects the map from the elements while making it in a usable format, but also allows route information to be written on it with a suitable, erasable marker. The proposed route can be drawn directly onto the map, on as many section as are needed. After the journey, this information may then be erased, providing a clean map again. A further advantage of this invention is that the problem of route overlap on two or more large sheet maps is avoided. Even if the maps were sold covering the same area as previously, it is possible to take the relevant sections from two or more maps and use them together without the inconvenience of needing at times to open up two maps. Figure 1 illustrates a typical example of the proposed system. A discrete map 'awl' is divided into convenient sections 'B1'. Each section is protected by laminating it between two thin sheets of plastic, using known current technology 'C1'. The top surface must be transparent plastic, the lower surface not necessarily so. If the map is packaged as a two-sided map, the lower surface would also have to be transparent. Adjacent map sections may have where necessary references at their edges to the next section, or perhaps to the next map 'D1'. Map sections may also be packaged in a suitable case, Fig. 2-'A2', either purely for carrying, or with a means of seeing one (or if top and bottom, two) section(s) for easy reference. This container may also posess other sections, to hold, for example, additional items, such as a compass, some form of calculator, or any other convenient article 'B2'. CLAIMS

2. A map system as described in 1.

3. A map system as described in 1.

4. A map system as described in 3.

5. A map system as described in 1.

through 4. above, whereby individual sections are made available.

6. A map system as described in 1.

7. A map system as described in 1.

through 6. above, supplied with a poitective package, cover, or envelope.

8. A map system as described in 1, through 6. above, supplied with a protective package, cover or envelope, which contains one or more windows or openings to allow use of the maps while inside the protective package.

9. A map system as described in 1.

through 6. above, supplied with a protective package, cover or envelope. The protective packaging contains additional space in the form sections capable of containing accessory items such as a compass or a calculator.

10. A map system as described in 1.

through 6. above, supplied with a protective package, cover, or envelope which contains windows or openings to allow use of the maps as described in 8. above. The protective package contains additional space as described in 9. above.

11. A map system as described in 1.

through 6. above, supplied with a protective package, cover, or envelope. The protective packaging contains additional space as described in 9. above, but with windows or openings to allow use of the accessory items while inside the protective package.

12. A map system as described in 1.

through 6. above, supplied with a protective package, cover, or envelope which contains windows or openings as described in 8.

above. The protective package contains additional space with windows or openings as described in 11. above.