WO2008139129A1

WO2008139129A1 - An information product

Info

Publication number: WO2008139129A1
Application number: PCT/GB2007/050735
Authority: WO
Inventors: Derek Dacey
Original assignee: Compass Maps Ltd
Current assignee: Compass Maps Ltd
Priority date: 2007-05-11
Filing date: 2007-12-03
Publication date: 2008-11-20
Anticipated expiration: 2009-11-11
Also published as: GB0709077D0

Abstract

There is provided a foldable information product (10) having a cover (11) comprising four panels (12 - 15) which are hingedly connected by means of folds (16 - 18). A plurality of star-folded products (20 - 22) are secured relative to the cover panels and some of the star-folded products are also secured to one or more divider panels (25). The divider panel or panels may or may not be secured to the cover (11).

Description

An Information Product

The present invention relates to an information product which incorporates a number of star- folded products which are designed to be folded and unfolded repeatedly during use.

Such star- folded products are known and are often used for foldable maps or any other printed information which needs to be presented to a user and then folded away. One star-folded product is disclosed, for example, in WO 03/017235 and another in US 4636192. In a star- folded product, a series of inward and outward folds are made, principally along fold lines meeting at a centre point of the sheet, but also including secondary fold lines positioned towards the edges of the sheets. The arrangement is such that when the product is folded to a predetermined folded condition, two principal portions of the sheet are closed one toward the other by a closing movement in the manner of the closing of the covers of a book, and other portions of the product automatically fold inwardly so as to be enclosed between the two closed principal portions of the sheet. In this way the product may be folded to an area much smaller than the open product, and can be folded by a single closing movement similar to closing the covers of a book.

According to the present invention there is provided a foldable arrangement comprising a cover having an inside and an outside and a plurality of star-folded products secured relative to the cover, the cover having four panels which are hingedly connected in series, a first of the star-folded products being connected to the inside of a first of the cover panels and to a further attachment surface, a second of the star-folded products being connected to the inside of a third of the cover panels and to one side of a divider panel, and a third of the star-folded products being connected to the other side of the divider panel and to the inside of a fourth of the cover panels. Usually, but not always, the panels are substantially rectangular. The securing of the star- folded products can be by means of adhesive or by means of a re leasable attachment. With some arrangements said further attachment surface is constituted by the inside surface of a second of the cover panels. Sometimes the divider panel has a main part and a hingedly connected tab part which is secured to the cover adjacent the hinge between the third and fourth cover panels. Other times the divider panel is not directly connected to the cover and is attached only to the second and third star- folded products.

With other arrangements said further attachment surface is one side of a second divider panel and a fourth star-folded product is connected to the other side of the second divider panel and to the inside of a second of the cover panels. Sometimes the divider panels each have a main part and a hingedly connected tab part, the tab parts being secured to the cover adjacent the hinge between the first and second cover panels and adjacent the hinge between the third and fourth cover panels. Other times the divider panels are not directly connected to the cover and are attached only to the star-folded products.

Sometimes the hinge connection between the second and third cover panels incorporates a spine portion which is hingedly connected to both the second and third cover panels. Often the cover is formed from a single piece of material which is folded to form the hinge connections. Usually the material is paper board.

Normally in a fully closed condition the first cover panel is closed towards the second cover panel, the fourth cover panel is closed towards the third cover panel and the outside of the first cover panel is in engagement with the outside of the fourth cover panel.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in more detail. The description makes reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view of a known star- folded product in an unfolded/open condition,

Figure 2 is a view of the figure 1 product in a folded/closed condition, Figure 3 is an end view of an information product according to the present invention in an intermediate open position,

Figure 4 is a front perspective view of the information product of figure 3 in another intermediate open position,

Figure 5 is a front perspective view of the information product of figure 3 in another position,

Figure 6 is an end view of another information product according to the present invention,

Figure 7 is a front perspective view of the information product of figure 6,

Figure 8 is an end view of a further information product according to the present invention,

Figure 9 is a front perspective view of another information product according to the present invention in an intermediate open position, and

Figure 10 is a front perspective view of the figure 9 information product in another position.

In figures 1 and 2 there is shown a known star- folded product 100 which could present a map or any other printed/graphic matter, for example common phrases in one or more foreign languages. The star- folded product 100 does not need detailed description as it is known from at least the two patent specifications stated earlier but is generally formed from a rectangular sheet of material, such as paper, which incorporates a predetermined pattern of inward and outward fold lines 110. Most of the folds 110 meet at a centre point 120 of the sheet but there are also secondary folds 130 positioned towards the edges of the sheets. When the sheet is folded into its predetermined folded condition (as shown in figure 2), two principal portions A, B of the sheet are closed one toward the other by a closing movement similar to the closing of the covers of a book such that other portions of the sheet automatically fold inwardly so as to be enclosed between the two closed principal portions A, B of the sheet (see figure 2). Figures 3 to 5 show a first embodiment of an information product 10. The product 10 has a cover 11 which is formed from a single piece of paperboard. The cover 11 has four cover panels 12, 13, 14, 15 which are hingedly connected together in series by means of folds 16, 17, 18 which may be in the form of creases or a line of perforations or a combination of creases/perforations. In this embodiment a small intermediate spine 19 is provided between a pair of folds 17 but a single fold 17 could be provided instead.

A first star- folded product 20 has its principal portions A, B connected to and between the inside surfaces of the first and second cover panels 12, 13 such that hinging of the first and second cover panels 12, 13 about the first fold 16 will selectively open and close the first star- folded product in a known manner.

A divider panel 25 having a main part 26 hingedly connected to a tab part 27 is adhesively secured via the tab part to the third cover panel 14 (or alternatively to the fourth cover panel 15) such that the main part 26 also hinges substantially about the fold 18. In practise, the tab part may be longer than shown and could even extend to the fold 17 between the spine 19 and third cover panel 14. A second star-folded product 21 has its principal portions A, B connected to and between the inside surface of the third cover panel 14 and the adjacent surface of the main part 26 of the divider panel 25. A third star- folded product 22 has its principal portions A, B connected to and between the adjacent surface of the main part 26 of the divider panel 25 and the inside surface of the fourth cover panel 15.

It will be appreciated that hinging of the divider panel 25 about the fold 18 will cause the second and third star- folded products 21,22 to open and close. It will be apparent that the divider panel 25 preferably extends beyond the attached principal portions A,B so as to constitute a gripable part 28 for facilitating the opening and closing of the second and third star- folded products 21, 22. When the product is fully opened out the first star- folded product 20 is completely opened up and the user can flick between the second and third products being open. Alternatively, the first product could be fully closed as shown in figure 5 whilst there is still access to the second and third products.

Figures 6 and 7 show a second embodiment which is similar in many respects to the embodiment shown in figures 3 to 5. In this arrangement, however, there is provided a second divider panel 25 between the first and second cover panels 12, 13. The tab part 27 of the second divider panel is secured to the second cover panel 13 (or alternatively to the first cover panel 12) such that the main part 26 hinges substantially about the fold 16. Again, the tab part 27 could extend further, perhaps to the next fold 17. The first star- folded product 20 in this embodiment has its principal portions A, B connected to and between the inside surface of the first cover panel and the second divider panel 25.

A fourth star-folded product 23 then has its principal portions A, B connected to and between the inside surface of the second cover panel 13 and the adjacent surface of the second divider panel 25. The first and fourth star-folded products 20, 23 therefore function in a similar manner to the second and third star- folded products 21, 22. When the cover 11 is fully opened out as shown in figure 6, the user can flick between the information provided on products 1 and 4 and on products 2 and 3. This information could be in the form of maps or other information depending on the purpose of the information product 10. Alternatively, either side could be closed whilst there is still access to the two star- folded products on the other side of the spine 19.

The embodiment shown in figure 8 is very similar in construction to the embodiment in figures 6 and 7. The difference is that in figure 8, the two divider panels 25 do not have tab parts 27. The two divider panels 25 are not, therefore, secured directly to the cover 11 although they are still attached to the star-folded products and operate in the same way. The omission of the tab parts 27 represents a saving in materials and the saving on a manufacturing step which requires precision if the main parts 26 are to hinge accurately about the folds 16 or 18. Slight inaccuracies can cause the star-folded products to fold and unfold inaccurately resulting in poor operation and possibly damage.

To fully fold the product 10, the cover panels 12 and 13 are closed together (with information product(s) therebetween) and the cover panels 14 and 15 are closed together (with information products therebetween) and the two parts are then folded about the hinges 17 so that the footprint of the folded product is the same as one of the cover panels. The cover panels may be held together by closing means (not shown) such as a magnetic catch, press-stud, elastic band, hook/loop fastener. These could be attached to the outer surfaces of the first and fourth cover panels 12, 15 or may incorporate tabs cut from the second and third cover panels 13, 14.

The arrangement shown in figures 9 and 10 is almost identical to that shown in figures 4 and 5 except that the gripable part 28 of the divider panel 25 is in the form of a gripable tab rather than a full width extension. The tab 28 not only provides a gripable area but also assists the user when navigating through the product and switching between star- folded products. The tabs can be printed to highlight the locations of the various star-folded products.

Further divider panels/star- folded products could be incorporated within the four cover panels. It may also be desirable, perhaps where bulk is an issue, to incorporate small intermediate spines at the folds 16, 18 to encourage the cover panels to lie flat when folded together. The use of tab extensions 28 on the divider panels again makes it easier for the user to locate and move between the various star-folded products.

In other arrangements the first and second cover panels 12, 13 can be differently dimensioned to the third and fourth cover panels 14, 15 such that one pair projects beyond the other. This can assist in the opening of the covers by providing a purchase joint. It is also possible for additional star- folded products and associated divider panels to be provided within the cover panels. It will be appreciated that in all of the above-described arrangements one or more of the star- folded products could be replaced with a booklet. It is also envisaged that the cover 11 could be made from other suitable materials such as metal, plastic, plastic coated paper. In addition, the cover panels could be hingedly connected by means of hinge means other than folds such as tapes etc.

Other alternative arrangements will also be apparent and are envisaged by the scope of the attached claims. For example, the cover panels are shown as being rectangular but other shapes are possible.

Claims

1. A foldable arrangement comprising a cover having an inside and an outside and a plurality of star- folded products secured relative to the cover, the cover having four panels which are hingedly connected in series, a first of the star-folded products being connected to the inside of a first of the cover panels and to a further attachment surface, a second of the star-folded products being connected to the inside of a third of the cover panels and to one side of a divider panel, and a third of the star- folded products being connected to the other side of the divider panel and to the inside of a fourth of the cover panels.

2. A foldable arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said further attachment surface is constituted by the inside surface of a second of the cover panels.

3. A foldable arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said further attachment surface is one side of a second divider panel and a fourth star-folded product is connected to the other side of the second divider panel and to the inside of a second of the cover panels.

4. A foldable arrangement as claimed in claim 2 wherein the divider panel has a main part and a hingedly connected tab part which is secured to the cover adjacent the hinge between the third and fourth cover panels.

5. A foldable arrangement as claimed in claim 2 wherein the divider panel is not directly connected to the cover and is attached only to the second and third star-folded products.

6. A foldable arrangement as claimed in claim 3 wherein the divider panels each have a main part and a hingedly connected tab part, the tab parts being secured to the cover adjacent the hinge between the third and fourth cover panels and adjacent the hinge between the first and second cover panels.

7. A foldable arrangement as claimed in claim 3 wherein the divider panels are not directly connected to the cover and are attached only to the star-folded products.

8. A foldable arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the or each divider panel has a tab extension which projects beyond the adjacent star- folded products away from the associated cover.

9. A foldable arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein each cover panel is substantially rectangular.

10. A foldable arrangement as claimed in claim 9 wherein the hinge connection between the second and third cover panels incorporates a spine portion which is hingedly connected to both the second and third cover panels.

11. A foldable arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the cover is formed from a single piece of material which is folded to form the hinge connections.

12. A foldable arrangement as claimed in claim 10 wherein the material is chosen from the group comprising paperboard, plastic coated paper, plastic, metal.

13. A foldable arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein the divider panels are formed from a different material to the cover.

14. A foldable arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein further star- folded products and associated divider panels could be incorporated either between the first and second cover panels or between the third and fourth cover panels.

15. A foldable arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14 wherein in a fully closed condition the first cover panel is closed towards the second cover panel, the fourth cover panel is closed towards the third cover panel and the outside of the first cover panel is an engagement with the outside of the fourth cover panel.

16. A foldable arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15 wherein the cover panels are substantially rectangular.

17. A foldable arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16 wherein the securing of the star-folded products is by means of adhesive or by means of a releasable attachment.