Abstract:
An object resembling the cover of a hardbound book comprises two panels connected by a spine. The outside hinge configuration of the invention prevents the spine from collapsing, even if there are no contents between the two panels. The invention lends itself to a wide variety of book-like products (e.g., a book-like holder for a compact disc and accompanying booklet) where the contents are of changing width (thickness) or where the spine must be of a specific width, irrespective of the width of the contents, and further allows for a binding for a book to be fabricated prior to assembly or insertion of its pages. A hinged cover consistent with the invention comprises a spine and two rigid panels, each panel coupled to the spine and disposed rotatably with respect to the spine, and the spine serves as a hinge stop for each rigid panel, such that each panel, when rotated toward the other panel, is constrained from rotating substantially beyond 90 degrees with respect to the spine. A method of constructing a cover consistent with the invention comprises disposing a rigid front, rear, and spine panel core onto a sheet of pliable material, such that the width of the space between the spine panel core and the other panel cores is based on at least the sum of the thickness of the spine panel core and twice the thickness of the sheet of pliable material.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates, generally, to protective covers for housing various items, and more particularly, to a book-like outside-hinged cover for packaging, housing and protecting items such as stamp collections, photographs, compact discs, cassettes, and other electronic storage media. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   With reference now to  FIG. 1A , an exemplary typical hardcover book  10  known in the art comprises a plurality of pages  12  and a cover  14  (referred to as the book&#39;s “case” in the bookbinding arts) having two panels  15 ,  16 , a spine  17 , and two hinges  18 ,  19 , with one hinge  18 ,  19  on either side of the spine  17 . The plurality of pages  12  forms a support structure for the panels  15 ,  16  of the cover  14 , keeping the spine  17  at substantially a right angle with respect to the panels  15 ,  16 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1B , if all the pages  12  are removed from the book  10 ′ and the book  10 ′ is shut, the spine  17  will collapse. This occurs because, as one hinge  19  opens, the spine  17  approximates one panel  15  of the cover  14  as the angle between the two at the hinge  19  decreases, and as the other hinge  18  closes, the spine  17  moves away from the other panel  16  of the cover  14  as the angle between the two at the hinge  18  increases. The thickness of the book  10 ′ that remains (i.e., only the cover  14 ) will equal approximately the combined thickness of one cover panel  15  and the other cover panel  16 . 
   Illustrated another way,  FIG. 1C  shows a typical hardbound book  70 , which comprising a cover  76  having a front panel portion  71 , a rear panel portion  72 , and a spine portion  73 , and is hinged on the inside of the spine  73 . In this inside-hinge configuration, the front  71  and rear  72  panels both rotate about the spine panel  73  by means of hinges  78 ,  79  formed in a pliable material between the front  71  and rear  72  panels and the spine panel  73 , wherein the axes of rotation are located toward the inside of the book  70 , away from the spine panel  74 . This inside-hinge configuration limits the inward rotational travel of the front  71  and rear  72  panels toward one another solely based on the thickness of the plurality of pages contained within the cover  76 . If the plurality of pages is not attached, either directly or indirectly, to the spine  73 , then appropriate support for the front  71  and rear  72  panels may not be provided when the panels  71 ,  72  are shut. 
   Thus, in order for a typical hardcover book to maintain its rigidity while shut, the following two requirements must be met: (1) the width (thickness) of the spine must be approximately equal to the combined thickness of the front panel, the contents, and the back panel; and (2) the inside of the spine must be attached at nearly all points along its length to the contents of the cover. 
   Numerous situations exist in which the foregoing two conditions cannot be met, e.g., a photo album or stamp album that is not completely filled with pages, or a book holding compact discs (CDs), cassettes, diskettes, or other data storage or recording media. Prior art solutions to the problem of the collapsing spine include three-ring binders, certain photo albums, and holders for storing CDs. The three-ring binder or notebook maintains a rigid spine because of the rigidity of the metal rings, which also serve to retain the pages. Some photo albums have screws for retaining the pages, which also aid in maintaining the spine&#39;s rigidity. 
   Known solutions to the problem of the collapsing spine, e.g., the common CD packages known as “jewel boxes”, introduce other deficiencies, some of which exist partly because the universal standard width of a CD package is {fraction (5/16)}″, despite the fact that the combined thickness of a CD and the printed material accompanying the CD is usually less than ⅛″. Made of plastic, the jewel box is easily cracked, the hinge is easily broken, the front panel is hard to open, the booklet is difficult to remove and to replace, the general look is ordinary and mass-produced, and the excessive amount of plastic contributes to the problem of pollution. An exemplary alternative to the jewel box might be a hardcover booklet, wherein the combined thickness of the front panel, the boss that holds the CD onto the inside of one panel, the booklet glued onto the other panel, and the back panel, equals {fraction (5/16)}″. However, since the inside of the spine cannot feasibly be attached at all points to the contents of the booklet, the spine still collapses. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides an outside-hinged cover that will maintain rigidity when shut, even if (1) the width (thickness) of the spine is not approximately equal to the combined thickness of the front panel, the contents, and the back panel; and/or (2) the inside of the spine is not attached at nearly all points along its length to the contents of the book. A cover constructed in a manner consistent with this invention prevents the spine from collapsing, even if there are no contents between the two panels. 
     FIGS. 2 and 2A  illustrate an exemplary book-like object  80  comprising an exemplary outside-hinged cover  86  consistent with the invention. The cover  86  has a front panel portion  82 , a rear panel portion  83 , and a spine portion  81 , and is hinged on the outside of the spine  81 . In this outside-hinge configuration, the front  82  and rear  83  panels both rotate about the spine panel  81  by means of hinges  88 ,  89  formed in a pliable material between the front  82  and rear  83  panels and the spine panel  81 , wherein the axes of rotation are located on the outside of the book-like object  80 , at or adjacent the spine panel  81 . As described in further detail hereinbelow, this outside-hinge configuration limits the inward rotational travel of the front  82  and rear  83  panels toward one another based, not on the thickness of the plurality of pages contained within the cover  86 , but instead, based on the configuration of the front  82  and rear  83  panels with respect to the spine panel  81 , wherein the spine panel  81  serves as a hinge stop for the front  82  and rear  83  panels. Regardless of whether or not a plurality of pages (or other contents) is attached to the spine  81  of the cover  86 , appropriate support for the front  82  and rear  83  panels is provided when the panels  82 ,  83  are shut. 
   The invention may have utility in books, book-like objects, covers, cases, holders, packages, or other protective or storage devices. A hinged cover consistent with the invention may be constructed with particular sensitivity to the environment, as the materials thereof may comprise organic materials such as cloth, cardboard and paper (instead of, e.g., plastic). Since most or all of the parts may be formed from rectangular pieces, there will be almost no wasted materials when parts are cut. A hinged cover consistent with the present invention may have particular utility as a CD holder that resembles a hardbound book, and may also take the form of a book-like object for storing other recorded or stored material or data, so that such packaging can be sturdier, more attractive, easier to open, and less environmentally detrimental than standard designs. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1A  is a side perspective view of an exemplary hardbound book known in the art; 
       FIG. 1B  is a side perspective view of an exemplary hardbound book known in the art, with its pages removed; 
       FIG. 1C  is a side perspective view of another exemplary hardbound book known in the art; 
       FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of an exemplary book-like object comprising an exemplary hinged cover consistent with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2A  is a magnified side perspective view of the hinged cover illustrated in  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of an exemplary hinged cover consistent with the invention in its initial phase of construction, wherein the panel cores are placed on the cover prior to being affixed thereto; 
       FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of an exemplary hinged cover consistent with the invention wherein the overhanging flaps of the cover are folded over and glued onto the panel cores; 
       FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of an exemplary hinged cover consistent with the invention wherein the inside liner sheet is placed and glued on; 
       FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of an exemplary hinged cover consistent with the invention wherein the panels are raised slightly and moved towards the spine; 
       FIG. 6A  is a side perspective view of the hinged cover illustrated in  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a side perspective view of an exemplary hinged cover consistent with the invention wherein the two panels are rotated to a vertical position; 
       FIG. 8   a  is a cutaway view of the exemplary hinged cover illustrated in  FIG. 7 , at the cross-section of plane II—II; 
       FIG. 8   b  is a cutaway view of the exemplary hinged cover illustrated in  FIG. 7 , at the cross-section of plane III—III; 
       FIG. 9  is a top perspective view of another exemplary hinged cover consistent with the invention in its initial phase of construction; 
       FIG. 10   a  is a side cutaway view of the fully assembled exemplary hinged cover illustrated in  FIG. 9 ; 
       FIG. 10   b  is a side cutaway view of an exemplary hinged cover consistent with the invention in its initial phase of construction, wherein a unitary panel core is utilized, wherein the inside edges of the panels and both edges of the spine are cut at 45 degree angles; 
       FIG. 10   c  is another side cutaway view of an exemplary hinged cover consistent with the invention in its initial phase of construction, wherein a unitary panel core is utilized, wherein the inside edges of the panels and both edges of the spine are cut at 45 degree angles; 
       FIG. 10   d  is a top perspective view of an exemplary hinged cover consistent with the invention in its initial phase of construction, wherein a unitary panel core is utilized, wherein the inside edges of the panels and both edges of the spine are cut at 45 degree angles; 
       FIG. 10   e  is a side cutaway view of an exemplary hinged cover consistent with the invention, wherein the inside edges of the panels and both edges of the spine are cut at 45 degree angles, with the cover and paper liner glued in place onto the panel core unit; 
       FIG. 10   f  is a side cutaway view of another exemplary hinged cover consistent with the invention, wherein the two panels are rotated to a vertical position, and wherein the inside edges of the panels and both edges of the spine are cut at 45 degree angles; 
       FIG. 10   g  is an exploded side view of an exemplary hinged cover consistent with the invention, wherein the panels and spine are separate pieces attached to a sheet of flexible material, and wherein the inside edges of the panels and both edges of the spine are cut at 45 degree angles; 
       FIG. 11  is an elevated perspective view of an exemplary CD holder consistent with the invention; 
       FIG. 12  is a side perspective view of an exemplary CD boss used in an exemplary CD holder consistent with the invention; 
       FIG. 13  is a top perspective view of an exemplary CD boss used in an exemplary CD holder consistent with the invention; and 
       FIG. 14  is a side perspective view of the exemplary CD holder of  FIG. 11 , with a CD being held in place. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
   Turning now to  FIG. 3 , an exemplary packaging hinged cover (or “book”)  20  consistent with the invention in its initial phase of construction is illustrated. First, the cover  25  is laid out flat, and if the outside of the hinged cover is to be printed, then the printed side faces down. Next, glue (not shown) is spread onto the exposed side of the cover  25 . As shown, three panel cores—a front  21 , spine  22 , and rear  23  panel core—are placed on the cover  25  prior to being affixed thereto. Resultant overhanging flaps  26  extend beyond the panel cores  21 - 23 , each flap  26  in this exemplary embodiment having an isosceles trapezoidal form (although it should be noted that the flaps  26  could alternatively be convex hexagonal or rectangular forms to accommodate the thickness of the panels, or other geometric forms). The front  21  and rear  23  panel cores have the same length, width (thickness), and height, and the spine panel core  22  has the same width as the front  21  and rear  23  panel cores, although it is not necessary that the cores  21 - 23  are sized in this relationship to one another (e.g., the spine panel core  22  could be thicker than the other cores  21 - 23 ). The front  21  and rear  23  panel cores and spine panel core  22  are laid onto the cover  25 , such that the width of the space between the spine panel core  22  and each of the other panel cores  21 ,  23  is approximately equal to the sum of the width (thickness) of the spine panel core  22 , twice the width (thickness) of the cover  25 , and twice the width (thickness) of the liner sheet  28  (see  FIG. 5 ) to be affixed in a subsequent step. Further, those skilled in the art will recognize that other adhesive materials and/or methods of affixation may be used to join the panel cores  21 - 23  and the cover  25  instead of glue, e.g., stitching, stapling, etc. Alternatively, the panel cores  21 - 23  and the cover  25  may be fabricated from a single sheet, such as cardboard, or glued together in alternative configurations, as described hereinbelow and illustrated in  FIGS. 9 and 10   a.    
   With reference now to  FIG. 4 , the overhanging flaps  26  of the cover  25  are folded inward, over the edges of the panel cores  21 - 23  and then glued (or otherwise affixed, as described hereinabove) onto the exposed outer edges and/or upper surfaces of the panel cores  21 - 23 . 
   Next, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the inside liner sheet  28  is placed and glued (or otherwise affixed, as described hereinabove) onto the surface comprising the exposed upper surfaces of the panel cores  21 - 23  (not shown) and may also overhang a portion of the flaps  26  of the cover  25 . 
   Turning now to  FIGS. 6 and 6A , at this point in the construction, a front  32  and rear  33  panel and a spine  30  are formed by lifting the outer edges  34 ,  35  of the hinged cover  20  slightly (as shown, forces F 3 ) and applying an inward force F 1 , F 2  to each outer edge in the direction of one another, such that the elements (i.e., liner  28  and cover  25 ) along the hinges  38  are forced together. When forced together, the liner  28  and cover  25  may be glued (or otherwise affixed, as described hereinabove) to one another, if adhesive is deposited therebetween prior to the liner sheet  28  being placed in the previous step. 
   As  FIG. 7  illustrates, while the spine  30  remains stationary, the front  32  and rear  33  panels are folded up toward one another to a vertical position along the binges  38 . This further joins the remaining unaffixed parts of the cover  25  and liner sheet  28  to the rest of the unit, i.e., the cover  25  and liner sheet  28  are now fully adhered to the edges of the panel cores  21 ,  23  and spine core  22 . This process is more clearly seen in the cutaway views of  FIG. 8   a  (shown at the cross-section of plane II—II of  FIGS. 7 ) and  8   b  (shown at the cross-section of plane III—III of FIG.  7 ). As  FIG. 8   a  illustrates, the small loose portions of cover  25  and liner sheet  28  created by each of the hinges  38  are pushed outward so that they rest under the now-horizontal edge  39  of the panel  32 ,  33 . As shown, a bond may be formed between the inner section  29  (that was folded inward in a previous step) and outer section  31  of the cover  25 , if adhesive is deposited therebetween (or otherwise affixed, as described hereinabove) prior to this step. Further, if adhesive is deposited therebetween (or otherwise affixed, as described hereinabove), a bond may be formed between each side  37  of the spine  30  and the portions  36  of the cover  25  that now abut it. The space under each panel core  21 ,  23  is now completely filled in with two layers of cover  25  material and two layers of inside liner  28  material. Because of the strength of the cover  25  material on the outside of the unit  20 , this space cannot expand. 
     FIG. 8   b  illustrates that, unless the overhanging flaps  26  (see  FIG. 4 ) are large enough to cover the entire underside of the panel cores  21 - 23 , there will be an area where there is no inner section  29  of the cover  25 , i.e., at a cross-section taken along plane III—III, there may be a portion of the length of the spine  30  for which no cover material  25  extends along the inside of the hinge, depending on the dimensions of the cover material  25  used. 
   At this point, the construction is complete, and the outer sections  31  of the cover  25  are now taut, and the spine  30  is located such that it stops panels  32 ,  33  from closing substantially beyond 90 degrees relative to the horizontal surface of the spine  30 , even if (1) the width (thickness) of the spine  30  is not approximately equal to the combined thickness of the front panel  32 , the contents (not shown), and the back panel  33 ; and/or (2) the inside of the spine  30  is not attached at nearly all points along its length to whatever the contents of the hinged cover  20  might be. 
   The cover  25  may be constructed from flexible but strong materials, including cloth, paper, paperboard, or other pulped, fibrous and/or sturdy materials, or combinations thereof, including those derived from wood, cotton, linen, bamboo, hemp, rice straw, or polymer-derived materials. Adhesives used may include water-based glues, animal product-derived glues (including, e.g., albumen, fish and rabbit), vegetable-derived glues (including, e.g., agar-agar, arrowroot, rice starch, and potato starch), polymer-based and hot-melt glues. Non-adhesive attachment methods may include sewing, stapling, stitching, staple-like joining devices, or other mechanical adhesion means. The front, spine, and rear panel cores may be constructed from cardboard, paperboard, wood, polymer-derived materials, or other rigid, sturdy materials. 
   As  FIGS. 9 and 10   a  illustrate, in some cases, e.g., when using a cover material that is not sturdy, it may be desirable to employ a unit  40  comprising panel cores  41 - 43  that are pre-glued onto a sheet  45  which corresponds to the cover  25  in the previously described embodiments) comprising sturdy but flexible material. Alternatively, as  FIGS. 10   b - 10   g  illustrate, a unitary component  40 ′ may be used, wherein a thick, sturdy material such as cardboard or plastic is used, and wherein the panel cores  41 ′- 43 ′ are formed by excising two portions  47 ′,  48 ′ in the unitary component  40 ′, such that only a “sheet” portion remains in those excised locations  47 ′,  48 ′. ( FIG. 10   c  is a closer view of the unitary component  40 ′ of  FIG. 10   b , and  FIG. 10   d  is a top perspective view of the same unitary component  40 ′.)  FIG. 10   e  is a side cutaway view of an exemplary hinged cover  40 ′ consistent with the invention, wherein the cover  45 ′ and paper liner  28 ′ are glued in place onto the unitary panel  40 ′. 
   The unitary component  40 ′ or other such unit  40  may further comprise overhanging flaps (not shown), as in the previously described embodiments, which may be formed by excising material, or by gluing onto panel cores  41 - 43  (or  41 ′- 43 ′) a sheet  45  (or  45 ′) having overhanging portions. 
   In another embodiment  40 ″, as shown in  FIGS. 10   f (a side cutaway view) and  10   g  (an exploded side view), the edges of the spine  42 ″ and core panels  41 ″,  43 ″ may be cut or otherwise formed to meet at an angle other than 90 degrees, so long as the spine  42 ″ and core panels  41 ″,  43 ″ meet at any predetermined angle, based on the spine  42 ″ serving as a hinge stop for each panel  41 ″,  43 ″. Thus, each panel  41 ″,  43 ″, when rotated toward the other panel  41 ″,  43 ″, is constrained from rotating substantially beyond a certain angle with respect to the spine  42 ″ (as illustrated in  FIG. 10   f ). Such a construction may comprise three separate parts  41 ″- 43 ″ glued to a sheet  45 ″ of paper/plastic or other material, or may comprise a unitary panel, as described hereinabove. Additionally, a cover  45 ″ and/or paper liner  28 ″ may be disposed as described above. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 10   b - 10   g , the inside edges of the panels and both edges of the spine are cut at 45 degree angles; the remaining figures herein show the angle of the inside edge of the panel to be 0 degrees, while the angle of the outside edge of the spine to be 90 degrees. These configurations are but exemplary of the invention, and other angular configurations are possible. For example, (as seen in  FIG. 10   f ) in order for the panel cores  41 ′,  43 ′ to remain at right angles with respect to the spine core  42 ′ when the unit is in a closed position, the sum of the angle  99  of an inside edge of a panel  41 ′,  43 ′ (here, 45 degrees) and the angle  98  of an outside edge of the spine  42 ′ to which it interfaces (here, 45 degrees), with both angles measured relative to the sheet  45 ′, is 90 degrees. Of course, the angles could be 30 degrees/60 degrees, 45 degrees /45 degrees, 0 degrees/90 degrees (as illustrated in and described above with respect to  FIGS. 3 through 10   a ), or any other combination of angles whose sum is 90 degrees, in order for the spine core  42 ″ to stop the travel of either panel  41 ′,  43 ′ at 90 degrees. In some embodiments, certain uses of the present invention may dictate that the panels  41 ′,  43 ′ stop rotational travel at a number of degrees greater than or less than 90. 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 11 through 14 , a hinged cover consistent with the invention may also serve as a holder or package for storing CDs and accompanying printed matter. Turning now to  FIG. 11 , an exemplary CD holder  50  is shown, comprising an exemplary hinged cover  20  or  40  as described hereinabove, with a front panel  51 , spine  52 , and rear panel  53 , a boss  55  for retaining a CD, and a booklet  54  comprising a plurality of pages. (For ease of viewing, not all components of the cover  20  or  40  are shown in  FIG. 11 , as they have already been described hereinabove with reference to FIGS.  3  through  10 ). The booklet  54  may be glued or otherwise affixed to the inside of the rear panel  53  (e.g., to the liner  58 ), and the CD boss  55  may be glued onto the inside of the front panel  51  (e.g., to the liner  58 ), or alternatively, a unitary liner  58  (e.g., manufactured from a polymer-based or other moldable material) may comprise an integrated CD boss  55 . 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , an exemplary CD boss  55  is a unitary element and comprises a lower circular member  61  and an upper circular member  62 . The lower circular member has a diameter greater than that of the center hole of a standard CD (e.g., 45 mm). The upper circular member is tapered, such that its upper surface  63  has a diameter slightly greater than that of a standard CD (e.g. 15.3 mm), and the lower portion  64  has a diameter approximately equal to or slightly less than that of a standard CD (e.g. 14.8 mm). For this exemplary CD boss  55 , the lower circular member  61  has a thickness of 1.3 mm, and the upper circular member  62  has a thickness of 2 mm. 
   With reference now to  FIG. 14 , a side perspective view of the exemplary CD holder  50  of  FIG. 11  is shown, with a CD  59  being held in place. The CD  59  is held in place by a boss  55  attached to the rear panel  53 . A booklet  54  comprising a plurality of pages is attached to the front panel  51 . Since the front  51  and rear  53  panels and the spine  52  are rigid, and since the front  51  and rear  53  panels cannot close substantially beyond 90 degrees relative to the horizontal surface of the spine  52 , the CD holder  50  when closed (i.e., the front  51  and rear  53  panels brought together) maintains an aesthetically pleasing appearance where all angles are essentially 90 degrees. Because of the rigidity of these 90-degree angles, the CD holder maintains its pleasing appearance even when squeezed in among other books in a bookshelf—the spine does not collapse, and the title may be read with ease. It should be understood that, when the cover is “closed” (i.e., the front  51  and rear  53  panels are brought together), the boss  55  may contact the booklet  54  (or inside of the front panel  51 , in an embodiment having no booklet), and/or the outer edges  67 ,  68  of the front  51  and rear  53  panels may contact one another. Of course, attachment means other than a boss  55  may be used to hold a CD (or other contents) in place, e.g., a pocket, retaining clip or lip, etc. It should further be recognized that a plurality of CDs may also be held in place inside a single cover, whether arranged horizontally, vertically, in rows, or otherwise on the inside of one panel, or even on top of one another (i.e., one CD held to the inside of the front panel, and the other held to the inside of the rear panel). This embodiment may be suitable for a wide range of uses for CDs, CD-ROMs, DVDs, diskettes, and other media, which may contain music, video, pictures, software or other data stored thereon. For example, one specific use would be a “mini-photo album” for a CD-ROM containing photographs, wherein an included booklet contains printed versions of some or all of the photographs stored on the disc, and a cloth cover provides an attractive miniature album-type device for housing the printed photographs and the CD-ROM. It should also be noted that other embodiments of the present invention may include additional features, e.g., flaps or panels at the top and/or bottom of the device and/or side (e.g., as seen in  FIG. 2 ) to prevent dust or other matter from entering between the cover panels when the device is stored on its end (e.g., on a bookshelf with the spine facing outward, as an ordinary hardcover book would be stored). 
   The embodiments that have been described herein, however, are but some of the several which utilize this invention and are set forth here by way of illustration but not of limitation. It is obvious that many other embodiments, which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, may be made without departing materially from the spirit and scope of the invention.