Book folder

[57] ABSTRACT

A folder for books and the like includes a sleeve having top and bottom panels connected by side wall panels. Closure panels are connected to at least one of the top and bottom panels. The ends of the side wall panels and tabs connected to the top panel form right angular projections extending beyond the end closure.

Claims, 8 Drawing Figures

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PATENTEDHAR131973

3,720,366

SHEET 1 OF 2

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BY

INVENTOR

T. A/Ia/rfm

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ATTORNEY

PATENTEDMAR1 31973

3,720,366

SHEET 2 OF 2

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3,720,366

BOOK FOLDER

This invention relates to an improvement in book folder and deals particularly with a folder having members projecting beyond the end closures of the folder to protect the ends of the books and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many different types of folders have been produced for protecting books from damage during shipment. While books are not fragile in the normal sense of the word, they are susceptible to damage, and few persons would purchase a book if the edges or corners of the pages were bent or bruised. Some of these book folders, such as is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,064,875 issued Nov. 20, 1962 to Mairs and U.S. Pat. No. 3,211,359 issued Oct. 12, 1965 to fickes show containers which are provided with hollow ends which protect the ends of the book from damage. Others, such as U.S. Pat. No. 3,441,195 issued Apr. 29, 1969 to Johnson show projecting members which are designed to extend beyond the end closures of the container to serve as a protection for the ends of the book.

While it is known that certain of these structures shown in the patents described have functioned satisfactorily, all publishers do not have the same type of equipment for closing the folders. Thus, some publishers will purchase one type of folder which may be sealed on the available type of equipment while others will prefer different types of folders. The present invention resides in the provision of a book folder which may be received in partially formed condition and sealed on equipment which is readily available.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a folder which will protect the books or other objects contained. If desired, these folders may be furnished in flat folded form so that when the folder is squared up, it forms a sleeve into which the book may slide, and the end closures may then be folded in place to close the ends of the sleeve.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of projections extending from opposite ends of the folder which tend to prevent the injury to the carton contents. These projections are preferably formed by extension of the side walls which are connected to tabs extending from an adjoining wall to form a right angular extension projecting beyond the ends of the folder. The extension of the side walls alone would not provide much protection, as the projections of this type are readily bent. However, the right angular projections are strong and act to protect the ends of the folder from injury.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the sealed folder in readiness for shipment.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view through the folder, the position of the section being indicated by the line 2—2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the folder, the position Of the section being indicated by the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the blank from which the folder is formed.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of folder.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6—6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view on the line 7—7 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view of the blank from which the folder of FIGS. 5 to 7 is formed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The folder A is designed to contain a book B or other similar object which must be protected while in shipment. The book B is shown in full lines in the sectional views of FIGS. 2 and 3.

As indicated in FIG. 4 of the drawings, the folder includes a rectangular top panel 10 which is foldably connected along parallel fold lines 11 to side wall panels 12. The side wall panels 12 are foldably connected along parallel fold lines 13 to partial bottom panels 14. In the arrangement illustrated, the partial bottom panels 14 are of a width slightly greater than one half of the width of the top panel, and these panels are secured in overlapping relation to form a tubular rectangular sleeve. Obviously, the edges of the panels 14 could be taped together or otherwise attached, or the bottom panel could comprise a single unitary panel, and the sleeve may be secured in tubular relation at some other point.

The top panel 10 is foldably connected along fold lines 15, which are at right angles to the fold lines 11, to end closure panels 16. Preferably, the end closure panels 16 are foldably connected along fold lines 17 to reinforcing panels 19 which may be folded into face contact with the closure panel 16. This is best illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings.

The side walls are somewhat longer than the top panel 10, the ends of the side wall projecting beyond the fold lines 15. Closure panels 20 are hingedly connected to the ends of the bottom panels 14 along fold lines 21. As is evident from FIG. 4, the fold lines 21 extend inwardly from the end edges 22 of the blank and terminate in spaced relation to the fold lines 13 connecting the top panels to the side wall panels. Generally L-shaped cut lines 23 extend from the ends of the side wall 12 to the ends of the fold line 21. These cut lines 23 thus define tabs 24 which project from the ends of the bottom panels 14 and provide extensions from the bottom panels which join the ends of the side walls 12. The end closure panels 20 are foldably connected along aligned fold lines 25 to anchoring panels 26. The end closure panels 20 are of a height substantially equal to the width of the side walls 12.

In forming the folder, the folder is either previously secured in tubular form, or else the folder is wrapped about the book until the partial bottom panels 14 are in overlapping relation and secured together. The portions of the end closure flaps 20 and anchoring panels 26 are also adhered in overlapping relation.

The end closures are made by folding the panels 16 against the ends of the book, and folding the reinforcing panels 19 into face contact with the panels 16. The panels 20 are then folded to lie outwardly of the reinforcing panels 19, and the anchoring panels 26 are folded into face contact with the top panel 10 and adhered or otherwise secured thereto. When the folder is

3,720,366 completely folded, as indicated in FIG. 1 of the drawings, right angular projections are provided on the side walls 12 and on the top panels 14 because of the tabs 24. These angular projections tend to prevent injury to the contents of the folder. In the foregoing description, the terms “bottom panel” “side wall panels” and “top panel” have been used to describe the elements of the carton. These terms are for the purpose of a description only.

A modified form of construction is illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 8 inclusive. As indicated in FIG. 8, the folder C includes a bottom panel 30 foldably connected along parallel fold lines 31 and 32 to side walls 33 and 34 respectively. The side wall 33 is hingedly connected along a fold line 35 to a glue flap 36. The side wall 34 is connected along a fold line 37 to a top panel 39. All of the fold lines which have been described are parallel.

The top panel is connected along fold lines 40 which are at right angles to the previously described fold lines to end wall panels 41. The panels 41 are foldably connected along fold lines 42 to reinforcing panels 43. The panels 41 and 43 are of substantially the same size and are designed to fold into contiguous face contact.

End closure flaps 44 are hingedly connected to the ends of the bottom wall 30 along parallel fold lines 45. Anchoring panels 46 are hingedly connected to the ends of the closure flaps 44 along fold lines 47. It will be noted that the fold lines 45 extend only across the central portion of the bottom panel 30. L-shaped cut lines extend from the ends of the fold line 45 to the fold lines 31 and 32 respectively. As is evident from the drawings, the side walls 33 and 34 are somewhat greater in length than the bottom and top panels 30 and 39 so that the portions within the L-shaped cut lines 49 form projecting tabs 50 which are hingedly connected to the ends of the side walls 33 and 34.

It will be noted that the ends of the glue flap 36 are cut along diagonal cut lines 51 so that the glue flap 36 is trapezoidal in shape, with the longer of its parallel sides connected by the fold line 35 to the side wall 33. The anchoring flaps 46 are also provided with diagonally cut edges 52. Thus when the anchoring panels 46 and glue flap 36 are folded into face contact with the top panel 39 as indicated in FIG. 5 of the drawings, the anchoring panels and glue flap meet along diagonal mitered edges.

From the foregoing description, it will be evident that the folder C is identical to the folder A with the exception of the fact that the panels are secured in tubular relation by means of a glue flap rather than by overlapping the edges of partial bottom panels. The folder A has the advantage of having protective portions of increased thickness where the top panels overlap and the end panels and anchoring panels also overlap. On the other hand, the folder C has the advantage that these folders will stack more readily when in closed position.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my improvement in book folder; and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.