US3809311A

US3809311A - Book protector and mailer

Info

Publication number: US3809311A
Application number: US00250835A
Authority: US
Inventors: S Fohrman; J Chmela
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-05-17
Filing date: 1972-05-17
Publication date: 1974-05-07
Anticipated expiration: 1991-05-07

Abstract

A light-weight molded plastic book protector and mailer consisting of rigid book edge embracing members secured about the periphery of the book by a transparent envelope formed from a transparent sheeting.

Description

D United States Patent 1191 [111 3,809,31 1 Fohrman et a]. May 7, 1974 [541 BOOK PROTECTOR AND MAILER 2.758.772 8/1956 Williams 206/46 FR x [76] Inventors: Seymour F. Fohrman, 8242 229/87 R McCormick Blvd-1 Skokie, 60976; 2:5l7:801 8/1950 Roush .2: I: John Chmela, 5 Davis 1,619,011 3/1927 Agar Morton Grove, [11. 60053 1929161 10/1933 Coffin et a1. 229/14 C X [22] Filed: May 17, 1972 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 2 Appl NO: 250 835 261.001 9/1964 Australia 2(16/65 S Primary E.ranziner-William 1. Price {52] L5. Cl. 229/87 R, 206/46 FR, 206/62 R, AMI-5mm Emmmer Stephn Garbe 206/65 S. 229/DIG. 1, 248/3451 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Edward C. Threedy [51] Int. Cl 865d 65/10, B65d 85/30 [58] Field of Search 229/87 R,DIG. 1, 14 C;

206/46 FR, 4533, 62 R, 65 s; 248/3451 [57] ABSTRACT A light-weight molded plastic book protector and mai- [56] References Cited 1er consisting of rigid book edge embracing members UNITED STATES PATENTS secured about the periphery of the book by a transparent envelope formed from a transparent sheeting. 2,717,073 9/1955 Young .1 206/45.33 X 3,047,142 7/1962 Heffley 206/62 R 3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures minnow 1 m4 m 3 1: Z :1 I u r" 1 5 l t E I l l: n l 1 n l n: E r t 1 BOOK PROTECTOR AND MAILER SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIGN A book mailer which may also be utilized for protecting the book in storage, comprising a pair of molded, channeled, generally U-shaped, members, each of a size to embrace a substantial portion of the peripheral edges of a book and particularly the corners thereof, with the channel being of sufficient depth to receive and hold therein the spine as well as the loose edges of the book.

For use as a mailer, the edge-embracing members are fixedly secured about the book by a transparent envelope formed from a thermoplastic heat-shrinkable sheeting or semi-rigid acetate or other protective coverings having sufficient tensile strength to prevent accidental tearing, ripping or puncturing. Secured to the sheeting in any suitable manner may be an acceptable post-office mailing label, and in fact the same may be placed upon the inner surface of the envelope to prevent accidental detachment or destruction of the label.

For protective use in the storage of books, the edgeembracing members may be employed without the sheeting, and, as such, these members are formed from relatively thin yet rigid material which adds substantially nothing to the size or thickness or weight of the book and thus may be retained upon the book during storage upon library shelves or within bookcases.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION While the invention may be capable of various uses, its present form of use is shown in the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the book protector and mailer as it appears in use;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the unassembled portions of the invention, showing each in its relative position one to another;

FIG. 3 is a detailed sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary detail view of a modified form of construction;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional detail view of the construction shown in FIG. 4..

The present conventional book mailers are normally constructed from heavy cardboard or corrugated board or the like and completely cover all the exposed surfaces of the book, thus adding greatly to its weight and bulk and concealing from view the cover'thereof, and, once used, the mailer has no utility and is discarded or destroyed. The most vulnerable portions of the book are its corners and the spine thereof, and with that in mind it is the purpose of the present invention to provide protection to these portions of the book while not adding to its overall size, weight, or bulk.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown in perspective the present invention utilized as a book mailer. In such use, a book is contained within edge-engaging protectors l1 and 12 which are in turn secured in such position by an envelope 13 made from a transparent heatshrinkable plastic sheeting 14.

It is apparent from the drawings that the two

edgeengaging protectors

11 and 12 are similar in construction and therefore only one will be described in detail, identical primed reference numerals being applied to the other.

As shown in FIG. 2, the edge-embracing member 11 comprises a one-piece molded plastic U-shaped body 15. The body 15 is provided with

side walls

16 and 17 which form therebetween an open channel 18 As previously noted, the corners of a book are the most vulnerable portions and therefore require a greater degree of protection during transit or in storage. To this end, the

side walls

16 and 17 of the U-shaped body 15 that adjoin the

parallel arm portions

19 and 20 of such body 15, increase in width as they approach their junction with the

side walls

16 and 17 of the medial portion 21 of the body, attaining their greatest width adjacent to the

corners

22 and 23.

When used as a mailer, each of the

members

11 and 12 are placed upon the book such that their respective medial portions 21 and 21' will embrace within the channel portions thereof the top and bottom edges of the book 10. The respective

parallel side arms

19 and 20 will embrace respectively a portion of the open side edge of the book and the spine 24 (see FIG. 3) of the book.

The book 10 when encased in the edge-embracing

members

11 and 12 is then placed within the envelope 13 formed by the plastic sheeting 14 which is then heatsealed and shrunk to a taut hermetic envelope. In such condition, the book is ready for mailing or, if desired, for storage. In either case, the book is protected from damage and is sealed from dust and moisture.

After use as a mailer and upon removal of the envelope 13, the

members

11 and 12 may be retained for use to protect the book while it is stored, such as upon the shelves of a library or within a bookcase, without objectionably adding to its overall size or bulk. The ease of removal of the

members

11 and 12 when the book is to be used, as well as the ease of replacement of

such members

11 and 12 upon the book when it is desired to store the same, makes for a convenient and attractive means of protection.

As an added measure of protection for the corners of the book, there is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, a modified corner structure incorporated in the

members

11 and 12. In such modified corner construction, a portion of each of the

corners

22, 23, 22' and 23, indicated at 25, is caused to be displaced outwardly from the normal longitudinal plane of the medial portions 21 and 21' so as to remain out of contact, as indicated at S, with the corners of the book. It is apparent that while one edge of the book forming the corner may be in flat facial abutment with the corresponding run of the

side arms

19, 19', 20, and 20 of the respective members 1 1 and 12, the exact apex of the corner of the book cannot engage in physical contact with a corresponding corner of the protective members, and thus cannot be damaged.

It is apparent that by utilizing the invention, very little weight is added to that of the book, thus reducing the amount of postage required to mail the book as compared to other types of mailers. This fact, together with the opportunity of continuing permanent use of the protector members results in a great advantage in the use of this invention over any other form or type presently known.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying our invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. We, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A book protector and mailer comprising a. a pair of book edge engaging members generally U-shaped in cross section so as to provide a medial base portion and a pair of substantially parallel side arms, 1

b. said base portion and said side arms of said U- shaped member provided with laterally extending side walls spaced apart to form therebetween a book edge receiving channel,

0. said side walls of said side arms increasing in width in the direction of their junction with the side walls of said medial base portion of said U-shaped member to provide corner channels having a depth greater than said book edge receiving channels so 4 as toenclose and protect the corner of a book, the edges of which are disposed in said book edge receiving channels. 2. A book protector and mailer as defined by claim 1, further defihed by providing that the junctions between said base portion and said side arms of said U- shaped member are displaced outwardly of the longitudinal plane of said base portion and said side arms so as to be spaced from and out of Contact with a corner of a book positioned within said book edge receiving channels.

3. A book protector and mailer as defined by claim 1 and further defined as providing that said U-shaped

Claims

1. A book protector and mailer comprising a. a pair of book edge engaging members generally U-shaped in cross section so as to provide a medial base portion and a pair of substantially parallel side arms, b. said base portion and said side arms of said U-shaped member provided with laterally extending side walls spaced apart to form therebetween a book edge receiving channel, c. said side walls of said side arms increasing in width in the direction of their junction with the side walls of said medial base portion of said U-shaped member to provide corner channels having a depth greater than said book edge receiving channels so as to enclose and protect the corner of a book, the edges of which are disposed in said book edge receiving channels.

2. A book protector and mailer as defined by claim 1, further defined by providing that the junctions between said base portion and said side arms of said U-shaped member are displaced outwardly of the longitudinal plane of said base portion and said side arms so as to be spaced from and out of contact with a corner of a book positioned within said book edge receiving channels.

3. A book protector and mailer as defined by claim 1 and further defined as providing that said U-shaped member is formed from a one-piece light-weight molded plastic material, and a sealed envelope formed from a heat shrinkable plastic material is provided for the book protector and mailer.