US3802723A

US3802723A - Method for binding a book

Info

Publication number: US3802723A
Application number: US00241339A
Authority: US
Inventors: A Watson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-04-05
Filing date: 1972-04-05
Publication date: 1974-04-09
Anticipated expiration: 1991-04-09

Abstract

A method of binding a book is disclosed in which the signature, or body of the book, is inserted in a case and is then united with the case by means of a course of stitching extending fully through the signature, covering material of the case and spine reinforcing strip at one and the same time, thus providing a book binding of enhanced strength and durability that will open easily and lie open flat and that allows for any printed type matter or illustrations or artwork to be positioned immediately adjacent to the center fold of the signature, or to run uninterrupted across the line of stitching onto the facing page.

Description

United States Patent 19 Watson METHOD FOR BINDING A BOOK [76] Inventor: Aldren A. Watson, River Rd.,

Putney, Vt. 05346 [22] Filed: Apr. 5, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 241,339

[51] Int. Cl B42d l/06 [58] Field of Search 281/27, 15 R, 21 R, 29,

V [56] I References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,782,056 2/1957 Allegretti 281/21 R 1,495,467 5/1924 White .l 281/37 1,238,655 8/l9l7 Exline 281/15 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 589,269 11/1933 Germany...., 281/23 [11] 3,802,723 [4 1 Apr. 9, 1974 Primary Examiner-Robert w. Michell Assistant Examiner-Milton C. Y. Mui

[ 7] i ABSTRACT A method of binding a book is disclosed in which the signature, or body of the book, is inserted in a case and is then united with the case by means of a course of stitching extending fully through the signature, covering material of the case and spine reinforcing stripat one and the same time, thus providing a book binding of enhanced strength and durability that will open easily and lie open flat and that allows for any printed type matter or illustrations or artwork to be positioned immediately adjacent to the center fold of the signature, or to run uninterrupted across the line of stitching onto the facing page.

14 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEI] APR 9 I974 v sum 2 or 3 1. METHOD FOR BINDING A BOOK BACKGROUND OF THE lNVENTlON There are various known types of book bindings in general commercial use, each type having characteristic features that are to a greater or lesser degree related to manufacturing cost, and hence related to the durability and term of useful life of the binding. Factors that influence the choice of one particular type of binding as opposed to any of the other types are: the subject matter contained in the book; the anticipated market of the book; the degree of durability required; the probable retail price of the book; and the unit manufacturing cost of the binding itself, which generally represents asigniiicant percentage of the total manufacturing cost of the completed book. Thus, with respect to existing types of book bindings, it follows generally that the more durable the binding, the greater'its manufacturing cost. 1

Notwithstanding this, however, most types of book bindings in commercial use have in common one critical structural weakness, namely, that the signatures of the book are attached to the case solely by means of a strip of cloth and an application of adhesive. In'effect, the strength and durability of the book binding is specifically limited by present construction methods. F urther, the problem of economically manufacturing a book binding that embodies acceptable standards of durability has not been satisfactorily solved.

For example, books that it is known will receive hard use by a multitude of readers library books; and books that will receive like treatment in the hands of inexperienced readers childrens books; are two instances where maximum durability, is desired. With respect to a class of children s books known in thetrade as picture, book flats,? it is especially important that the construction of the book binding provide in addition to maximum strength and durability, that the book open easily and remain open in a flat position, thuspermitting a fully enhanced and visible display of thetype matter in conjunction with the illustrations and artwork, which altogether comprise major features of such childrens books. f I

Books that are offered for sale through bookstores and other outlets, to the general public, and which are referred to as trade books, as opposed for example to textbooks and technical books offered for sale to school districts or institutions are customarily bound by one of several binding methods whereby the signatures are sewn through the folded backs of the same and attached to the case by means of a method described above. Although this so-called trade binding or subjected to similar wear and tear, there has been developed the so-called reinforced library binding in which, prior to the signature being attached to the case,

the signature is first sewn or stitched through the side, on a line parallel with the back edge of the signature. This side-sewing indeed provides much greater strength insofar as the signature alone is concerned; yet, because the signature is attached to the case solely by a strip of cloth and adhesive, the overall durability of the completed book is little improved. Further, this reinforced library binding has two distinct disadvantages, especially as it relates to children"s books: (1) Due to the signature having been stitched through at the side, the book opens with considerable difficulty, and will not stayopen in a flat position; (2) The illustrations and artwork cannot be positioned any closer to the center of such a side-sewn binding than approximately one inch. in effect, side sewing cancels out the advantage of originally sewing the signatures through the center fold. As a consequence the important feature of properly displayed artwork and illustration is severely restricted.

Therefore, publishers of books of these types frequently offer for sale two editions of the same book, namely, a trade edition and a .reinforced library edition," the latter at an increased price.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method of binding books to achieve superior strength, and hence greater durability and longevity of serviceable life that is at the same time simple and economical to manufacture. It is particularly applicable to the binding of books having single signatures of 32 pages or more, made,up of superposed flat sheets, which sheets are folded along a transverse medial line prior to their being attached to, and made onej'with, a prefabricated case.

The present invention provides a book of superior strength and durability that can be manufactured economically in a manner to combine: the best features of the aforementioned two binding types, while at the same time eliminating the undesirable features of both.

In addition, the present invention provides three advantages which contribute to'the durability of the book binding: (1) The turned-over edges of the cover sheet form a slight protrusion or'ridge around the outside edges of the cover boards. The resultingrecess or depressed area which is occupied by the design or illustrative elements imprinted on the outer cover sheet therefore protects the same artwork from abrasion or other damage. (2) This same arrangement of having the design and illustrative elements made integral with the structureof the binding therefore obviates the need of providing a separate detachable dust wrapper, which is customarily done. (3) The visible stitching along the spine provides a recognizable feature of obvious strength and durability.

In accordance with the present invention an extremely durable book binding is provided that is simply constructed, is no more expensive to manufacture than othercomparable bindings and is manufactured in a manner involving either materials and machinery generally available in binderies or materials and machinery which are adaptable to the method of the present invention with few, if any, modifications.

I The method of the present invention provides that theconstruction of the binding may be carried out in one continuous manufacturing operation or in a series of related operations. For the purposes of convenience the method of the present invention will be described as involving three sequential operations:

- OPERATION I A case for the book is first made from an elongated sheet of cloth, paper orother material suitable for the purpose to which is adhesively secured (or otherwise bonded) on one side of the elongated sheet a pair of' cover boards (either plain or preprinted with appropriate indicia, designs or artwork), the boards being positioned equidistant from a center line (the medial transverse axis) of the elongated sheet, and thereby providing a space between the two adjacent inner edges of the boards, which space defines the spine area of the book. Following this, a spine reinforcing strip of cloth or other suitable material is adhesively secured in the spine area in such manner that it laps over and is attached to the edges of the cover boards adjacent the spine area gap, being also secured over the portion of exposed cover material in the same spine area.

Then the cover sheet, which is made so that it has a marginal surplus of material aroundall four sides of the boards intheir attached position, is folded up and over the edges of the boards, and is adhesively secured (or otherwise bonded) to the flat surfaces of the same, such marginal surplus at the spine area being adhesively secured either over or under opposite end portions of the spine reinforcing strip.

OPERATION II Thereafter, the case is brought together with a signaturein such position that the sides of the cover boards to which the cover sheet is secured are immediately next to and in contact with the outside leaves of the signature, the center line of the case being in exact alignment with the center fold of the signature. For the purpose of accomplishing this step, the folded sheets of the signature may be temporarily secured in correct alignment witha dot of adhesive or other holding means.

OPERATION IIl Thereafter, the signature and the case, arranged in proper relationship, i.e., the former inside the latter in correct alignment, are united and made one by means of a line or course of stitching extending along the length of the spine, the thread or stitching passing fully through the signature, the covering material of the case, and the reinforcing strip, the stitching being effected from the inside of the signature to the outside of the case or vice versa.

Thereafter, the front and back end'sheets, or the sheets of the signature immediately next to the'insides of both cover boards, may be adhesively secured (or otherwise bonded) to the front and back covers respectively and an outside cover sheet may be adhesively secured to the outer surfaces of the case, either as one continuous panel wrapped around the case and overlying both the stitching along the spine and the spine reinforcing strip, or as two separate panels, one for each of the covers, in which instance the stitching along the spine, together with a portion of the spine reinforcing strip, will remain exposed to view.

In accordance with the present invention various known materials can be used for the various book components.

The present invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, and the combination and arrangement of components which will be exemplified in the description hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A fuller and clearer understanding of the nature and objects of the present invention will be had from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the-accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view depicting the initial formation steps of making the case, in which cover boards are adhesively secured to the cover sheet, and the spine reinforcing strip is adhesively secured in place.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view depicting the manner in which the marginal portions of the cover sheet are folded up and over and adhesively secured to the flat surfaces of the cover boards along their edges.

FIG. 2a is a fragmentary perspective view depicting the manner in which the transverse end portions of the spine reinforcing strip are laid down on and secured to the surplus marginal material of the cover sheet after the latter has been secured to the cover boards.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view depicting the manner in which the case and the signature are broughttogether and aligned preparatory to their being secured one to the other with a stitching that passes through the reinforcing strip, the cover sheet and the signature, all at oneand the same'time.

' FIG. 4 is a perspective view depicting the manner in which an outer covering consisting of one continuous sheet is adhesively secured to the outside surface of one cover.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view depicting the manner in which the remaining portion of said outer covering is adhesively secured to the other remaining cover, and

further depicts in a cutaway section the underlying con- I struction at the spine of the book. 7

FIG. 6 is a perspective view depicting the manner in which theoperations described in FIGS. 4and 5 above may be accomplished by an alternate sequence, namely, the said outer covering is made in two separate pieces, each of which in turn is adhesively secured to its respective cover board.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view with certain sections cut away for the purpose of clarity depicting the components which comprise a book made in accordance with the present invention.

Throughout the description of the present invention, like reference numerals are used to denote like parts in the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention concerns a method of binding a book to provide the finished bound book with superior strength and durability, thereby sustaining the integrity of the binding structure over a prolonged period of time, and sustaining its capacity to withstand repeated use by a multitude of readers; further, a method to provide a finished bound book that will open easily and lie open flat, thereby allowing the illustrations and 1 artwork the maximum amount of display. The present invention is particularly applicable to books having a single signature of 32 pages or more, although it will be understood that the principles of the present invention are as well applicable to a wider range of books having a greater or lesser number of pages distributed vari ously among one signature or more than one signature. As a preliminary, reference is made to FIG. 7 wherein there is depictedin exploded perspective view the component parts which form a book'made in accordance with the present invention. Included among such components is a first group denoted by reference numeral 10 which make up the case of the binding. Such components include an elongated cover sheet 12 of cloth, paper or other suitable material, a pair of identical cover boards 14, each of which is of lesser transverse dimension than the cover sheet 12 and which are of somewhat less than one-half the overall length of cover sheet 12, and a spine reinforcing strip 16. Further, the book includes a signature comprised of a plurality of flat sheets generally eight or more in numher, with the sheets in the signature arranged in superposed coextensive positioning one with each of the others and folded on a line located at the transverse medial axis of the signature as at 22. Further, the book may include a continuous outer covering sheet 24 which ultimately provides the outer covering component in the finished binding, and may bear the usual indicia denoting author,title, publisher, code numbers, as well as design and/or illustrative elements. As an alternative, the outer covering sheet 24 may be provided-as two separate pieces, thus leaving the stitching exposed to view as at 28 in FIG. 7 and as at 28 in FIG. 6.

Referring now to FIGS. L3 which show the sequence of stepsin forming the case, the cover sheet 12 may be positioned in a flat configuration on a suitable surface or support to receive the cover boards 14, which are adhesively secured to the cover sheet 12 in the manner depicted in FIG. 1, the cover boards 14 being positioned equidistant from a center line (the medial transverse axis) of the cover sheet and'spaced so as to provide -a gap or spacing 15 between the symmetrically positioned cover boards. Following the attachment of the cover boards 14 to the cover sheet 12, the spine reinforcing strip 16 is adhesively coatedon its under surface and is then secured to the edge portions of the cover boards as at 17 adjacent to the gap 15, and to that portionof the cover sheet which is exposed to view between the cover boards, that is, inthe space 15. alternatively, and as depicted in FIG. 2a, the spine reinforcing strip may be adhesively. secured to the cover boards 14 and in the gap 15 between the boards after the marginal extremities of the cover sheet 12 have been folded over on to the cover boards and secured thereto. ln-such instance, transverse end portions of the spine reinforcing strip as at 16a overlay and are adhesively secured to the folded over marginal extremities of the cover sheet 12. Following the attachment of the spine reinforcing strip to the cover boards 14 and to the cover sheet 12, the marginal extremtiies of the cover sheet 12, which as described earlier extend beyond the edges of the cover boards, are folded up and over onto the surfaces of the cover boards and are adhesively secured to the same, as well as to the transverse end por tions of the spine reinforcing strip 16, as shownin FIG. 2. Alternatively, the transverse end portions of the spine reinforcing strip 16 can be left raised while the same is being secured in place, and thereafter be folded down on top of the folded over marginal extremities of the cover sheet 12.

As shown in FIG. 3 and after the case has been made as shown in FIG. 2, the case 10 may be arranged in one of several positions in which it is mechanically convenient and feasible to align the case 10 with and receive the book signature 20. The signature 20 is then positioned inside the case and aligned with the same, in the manner shown, viz, the transverse medial axis of the case is aligned with the folded back edge (transverse medial axis) of the signature 20 as shown at 22 in FIG. 7

' As further shown in FIG. 3, the signature 20 and the case with signature attached, as shown in FIG. 3, may

be closed to the position shown in FIG. 4 or arranged in one of several other positions that are mechanically feasible and the outer cover sheet 24 adhesively secured to one cover of the binding at a time or to both covers simultaneously as shown in FIG. 5. As shown in. FIG. 4, the cover sheet may'bear indicia 35 such as the book title, author, etc. Further, the outer cover may alternatively be adhesively secured as two separate sheets, either one at a time, or simultaneously as shown in FIG. 6. Y i

In the event it is desired to further enhance the appearance of the book at the inside surfaces of the cover boards shown at 18 in FIG. 3 next to the front and back end sheets of the signature, the first and last sheets of the signature 20, the so-called end sheets, may be adhesively secured to the inside faces of the cover boards 18, orspecial end sheets can be provided by wrapping an additional sheet around the signature at the time it is prepared. These special end sheets may then be adhesively secured to the inner faces of the cover boards in like manner.

For the purpose of making a book binding in accordance with the presentinvention, various types of materials may be employed in making the case and in covering its outer and/or inner surfaces, such as, binders board, buckram, cloth, paper, adhesives, or other suitable materials or processes including synthetics, laminations or bonding systems involving heat, pressure, chemistry or combinations thereof.

Where it is intended to provide a relatively rigid bind ing, cover boards of a stiff material customarily will be used for that purpose. On the other hand, were a socalled lamp binding is intended, a flexible material may be used for the cover boards. As will be discernible from a reading of the foregoing, the various types of materials used for making the book as well as the interchangeability of the materials for different purposes can be effected. For example, the same type of material used for the cover sheet generally will be used as well for the spine reinforcing strip.

What is claimed is:

I. A method for binding a book which comprises:

a. forming a case for the book in the steps of:

providing an elongated cover sheet having opposed faces and longitudinal and transverse margins, adhesively securing a pair of flat cover boards at one face thereof to one face of said cover sheet, each of said cover boards having longitudinal and transverse edges, 'said cover boards being positioned on said one face of said cover sheet at either side of the transverse medial axis of said cover sheet and spaced from each other to provide a gap therebetween, said cover sheet having surplus marginal material extending beyond corresponding edges of said cover boards in their attached position,

covering the gap between the cover boards with a spine reinforcing strip, and adhesively securing the same to said edge portions of the cover boards as well as to the face of said cover sheet within said folding over and adhesively securing the surplus marginal material of said cover sheet to the faces of said cover boards remote from the said one face thereof along edge portions of said remote faces,

b. aligning at least one book signature comprised of a plurality of folded sheets against the other face of the cover sheet with'the medial transverse axis of said signature in alignment with the corresponding axis of said case,

c. attaching said signature to said case with a course i of stitching extending through said signature, case,

cover sheet and said reinforcing strip.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the surplus marginal material is folded down on and secured to the top of transverse end'portions of said spine reinforcing strip after the latter is secured to said cover sheet.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein transverse end i boards.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising adhesively securing an outer cover to said remote faces of said cover boards.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising marking the remote faces of said cover boards with indicia.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said cover boards are comprised of rigid material.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said cover boards are comprised of flexible material.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said case is formed in a flat position and is folded to a partly closed configuration before being joined with said signature for stitching.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said case is formed in a flat position, and is collated with the signature in the same flat position prior to stitching.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein when said case is formed, said signature is received in position aligned with said case, said stitching is effected, and said outer cover sheet or sheets secured in one continuous manufacturing operation.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said stitching is made along the medial axis of both said signature and said case.

12. The method of .claim 1 wherein said cover sheet and said reinforcing strip are of the same material.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said material is paper.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein said material is cloth.

Claims

1. A method for binding a book which comprises: a. forming a case for the book in the steps of: providing an elongated cover sheet having opposed faces and longitudinal and transverse margins, adhesively securing a pair of flat cover boards at one face thereof to one face of said cover sheet, each of said cover boards having longitudinal and transverse edges, said cover boards being positioned on said one face of said cover sheet at either side of the transverse medial axis of said cover sheet and spaced from each other to provide a gap therebetween, said cover sheet having surplus marginal material extending beyond corresponding edges of said cover boards in their attached position, covering the gap between the cover boards with a spine reinforcing strip, and adhesively securing the same to said edge portions of the cover boards as well as to the face of said cover sheet within said gap, folding over and adhesively securing the surplus marginal material of said cover sheet to the faces of said cover boards remote from the said one face thereof along edge portions of said remote faces, b. aligning at least one book signature comprised of a plurality of folded sheets against the other face of the cover sheet with the medial transverse axis of said signature in alignment with the corresponding axis of said case, c. attaching said signature to said case with a course of stitching extending through said signature, case, cover sheet and said reinforcing strip.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the surplus marginal material is folded down on and secured to the top of transverse end portions of said spine reinforcing strip after the latter is secured to said cover sheet.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein transverse end portions of said spine reinforcing strip are laid down on and secured to the surplus marginal material of said cover sheet after the latter are secured to said cover boards.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said cover sheet and said reinforcing strip are of the same material.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said material is paper.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein said material is cloth.