Abstract:
A book jacket which may be used in the manufacture of durable, high quality softbound or hardbound books is disclosed which is constructed of a transparent or semi-transparent jacket sheet having opposed first and second surfaces. The jacket sheet is printed on its second surface in multiple layers, including at least one printed layer of indicia which is applied in a wrong-reading orientation that appears in readable orientation when viewed from the first surface, or exterior surface of the book jacket. The improved book jacket of the present invention eliminates the need for paper book jackets requiring laminates or protective coatings before the book is shipped or sold. If desired, the improved book jacket of the present invention may be partially transparent, thereby allowing an image printed on the cover of the book to be visible therethrough, further adding to the depth of the visible images. The book jacket of the present invention also provides increased durability and strength over such conventional book jackets without the need to add a protective covering, while also having a superior glossy appearance over conventional book jacket constructions.

Description:
IDENTIFICATION OF RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This patent application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/315,422, filed on Dec. 10, 2002, entitled “CONSTRUCTION FOR A BOOK COVER,” and a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/408,997, filed on Apr. 8, 2003, entitled “CONSTRUCTION FOR A BOOK COVER,” which is in turn a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/315,422, filed on Dec. 10, 2002. Both of these patent applications are assigned to the assignee of the present invention, and both are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates generally to the field of book jacket manufacture, and more particularly to an improved construction for a book jacket and a method of making the improved book jacket.  
           [0004]    A book jacket, also referred to as a dust jacket or dust-wrapper, is the paper wrapper that covers most hardbound books. A book jacket extends around the exterior cover of a book and folds around the edges of the book&#39;s front and back cover forming flaps. The book jacket conceals the outer front cover, the spine, and the outer back cover of the book, becoming the visible exterior surface of the book. Typically, a book jacket is not physically attached to the book in any manner.  
           [0005]    Book jackets first appeared on hardbound books in the 1830s and were designed to protect the expensive covering materials such as cloth or leather from scuffing, rubbing, or fading of the book cover in the sun. Traditionally, dust jackets were intended to protect the book while the book was being transported from publisher to reader. These early dust jackets existed for purely utilitarian purposes and were routinely discarded by book owners.  
           [0006]    Around the 1880s, books began to be sold with dust jackets having artwork or other decorative indicia. Book owners and libraries began to retain a book&#39;s jacket, not only for protection of the book, but also for the aesthetic appeal of the book&#39;s jacket. Indeed, these early book jackets are important to collectors today, and can represent up to half of the value of a collectible book. Depending on the artist or edition of the book, a book jacket can even be more valuable than the book itself.  
           [0007]    Today, with such a large volume of books available to the public, a book&#39;s jacket plays a vital role in attracting attention on bookshelves stacked with hundreds of other books. Accordingly, hardbound books, and some softbound books, contain book jackets designed to distinguish a book from other similar books by including bright colors, extensive artwork, photographs, or special effects like a foiled or embossed finish on the book&#39;s jacket. A book jacket provides a book with a unique visual identity.  
           [0008]    In addition to making a book stand out to prospective readers, a book&#39;s jacket also conveys important information about the book. This information includes information about the author, reviews of the book, credentials of the reviewers of the book, information pertaining to the audience for which the book was intended, and/or a summary of the book&#39;s contents. This information is intended to further distinguish the book from other books in the same subject area or fictional genre.  
           [0009]    Traditionally, book jackets are produced starting first with a sheet of opaque, white paper such as eighty or one-hundred pound one side coated stock. The dimensions of the jacket sheet ultimately depend on the size of the book to be jacketed; however, each jacket sheet is long enough to be folded over on to the interior surface of the front and back covers to provide for front and back jacket flaps, respectively, which may contain additional information about the book and/or the author.  
           [0010]    The paper sheet has two surfaces, namely, a top or first surface and a bottom or second surface. When the book jacket is placed on a book, the first surface of the sheet will become the exterior or outer surface of the book jacket (including the exterior or outer visible surface of the front and back jacket flaps) that will be viewed by a potential purchaser or reader. The second surface of the sheet will become the interior or inner surface of the book jacket which faces the book cover and is concealed when it is in place on the book. The second surface of the jacket sheet is typically left blank, and is typically white.  
           [0011]    In the first step in the manufacturing process, the exterior front, spine, and back cover designs (including the title, author, or other bibliographical information) and the information intended to appear on the inside flaps of the book jacket are printed on the first surface of the paper sheet in a right-reading fashion. That is, the words and/or images are printed on the first surface of the sheet in the normal reading position and are not laterally reversed. Since the paper sheet is opaque, it will be appreciated that the printed words are readable only from the first surface of the sheet. The second surface is typically not printed, as it will be concealed by the book&#39;s cover.  
           [0012]    Next, because the printed paper sheet will form the exterior covering for the book, and therefore will be exposed to damaging elements and abrasion, a protective top coat must be applied. Accordingly, after printing, the sheet is laminated with a thin material to protect the ink and paper from potential damage or destruction. Conventionally used laminate materials include polypropylene, polyester, polyvinyl, nylon, or similar materials of gauges generally ranging from 0.005 inch to 0.030 inch. Alternatively, a protective top coating may be applied to the first surface of the printed jacket sheet to protect the ink and the paper from damage. Commonly applied protective top coats include ultraviolet-cured coatings, water-based acrylics, varnish, or other similar materials.  
           [0013]    After the protective coating is applied, the jacket can be trimmed or prepared in any manner before being mated with a book. Finally, with the book laying flat on its spine and with the front and back covers opened, the jacket is slipped under the spine and formed or folded around the front and back covers forming the inside flaps, and then the book is closed. This operation can be done in-line; however, it is not uncommon for a book jacket to be manually mounted onto a book.  
           [0014]    A book&#39;s jacket, however, undergoes substantial stress and wear whenever the book is opened, stored, or transported. A paper book jacket may rapidly become torn or damaged, especially in the case of heavily-used books, such as those found in schools and libraries. Because a paper book jacket is easily ripped, scuffed, or otherwise damaged in appearance, many purchasers remove the book jacket after purchase and discard it, leaving the book cover completely unprotected.  
           [0015]    Further, because of its fragility, a paper dust jacket is difficult to maintain in appearance, detracting from the collectible value of the book jacket. As dust jacket collecting becomes more common among book collectors, there is a growing economic incentive which discourages the practice of removing and throwing away original book jackets.  
           [0016]    Even when the book&#39;s owner retains the book jacket, exposure to heat, oil, or moisture can cause the laminate coating to separate or curl away from the printed paper, or can cause the protective coating to be worn off, potentially destroying not only the ink and paper but the overall attractiveness and appearance of the book jacket. Further, exposure to the elements, especially in combination with the wear caused by repeated use of the book, can cause the book jacket to be completely destroyed, leaving the book cover unprotected and the book susceptible to significant damage.  
           [0017]    Indeed, conventional paper book jackets have only a very thin laminate or UV coating, which provides little structural reinforcement to the thin paper book jacket, and provides little structural reinforcement to highly stressed portions of the book cover such as the corners, the hinges, or the spine. Consequently, even with a protective coating or laminate, a paper book jacket of conventional manufacture is not effective in increasing durability of a book for multiple readings or heavy use.  
           [0018]    For these reasons, businesses, libraries, and classrooms attempt to protect their book jackets with protective book jacket covers, adding expense and additional work to the ownership of books. Conventional protective coverings include 1.5 mil to 2 mil polyester covers that can be either transparent or opaque and paper-backed. These protective covers are used to completely cover the book jacket. Typically, a book jacket cover will not require physical attachment to the original book jacket in order to preserve the integrity of the book jacket; however, less expensive book jacket covers require adhesives to adhere the protective covering to the book jacket or the book cover.  
           [0019]    Book jackets covers come in a variety of predetermined sizes corresponding to the specific size of a book&#39;s cover. Unfortunately, such book jacket covers can be difficult and cumbersome to assemble onto the book jacket, and then onto the book. Alternatively, protective book jacket covers are available in rolls or sheets and require custom fitting to a particular book cover size, which is inefficient and time-consuming for large book collections.  
           [0020]    These protective book jacket covers represent an additional expense and require extensive manual labor to fit on to a book&#39;s original book jacket or book cover. No matter how well the protective cover fits, the book jacket ornamental design and original printed indicia are obscured at least in part by the covering, significantly detracting from the book jacket&#39;s appearance. If a library call number is affixed to the inside flap or spine portion of the book jacket, a book jacket cover can also obscure that information.  
           [0021]    In addition, because the protective covering may not fully enclose the book jacket, it tends to fall off, completely eliminating any protective function of the jacket. Further, protective book jacket covers become worn and must be replaced, significantly adding to material labor costs in large institutions such as schools and libraries. Further, if a library call number is on the book jacket cover, it must be reapplied every time the book jacket cover becomes worn and is exchanged.  
           [0022]    For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,029,900, to Axelrod, discloses a transparent, wrap-around cover used to protect books having multiple sizes of printed, laminated paper book covers, such as softbound books. The wrap around cover disclosed by the Axelrod patent must be carefully fitted around the book to the correct width or height, and contains flaps that are adhered to the wrap around cover in order to retain the front and back covers of the book in place. This type of book covering takes time to properly fit, and requires the user to have more than one size covering when fitting a large collection of books of differing sizes. Even when fitted onto a book, this type of covering does not have the attractive, lustrous appearance of a custom printed and fitted book jacket. Indeed, the disclosed wrap-around cover, although transparent, obscures or blocks much of the ornamentation on the book that it covers.  
           [0023]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,505,497, to Katzman, discloses a multi-colored wrapper label, or book cover having readable data on both sides, with printing occurring only on one side of the wrapper label or cover. The Katzman invention discloses a transparent medium printed on its inside surface using individual pre-mixed spot colors, with each of five premixed colors applied one layer at a time, from dark to light in spots or patches on the transparent medium. Readable data appearing on the outside surface of the label is achieved by leaving unprinted subareas or portions of the transparent medium that are unprinted among the layer of the first, darkest color applied. The unprinted subareas correspond to the readable data in other words, the readable data is the stenciled out (ink free) portion remaining after the first, darkest layer is applied. Thus, in order for the label to appear with readable data on the outside surface, a second, lighter color of ink is applied, filling in the stenciled-out unprinted portions, and leaving unprinted subareas corresponding to readable data intended to appear on the inside surface of the label. In this way, subsequent layers of individual spot colors must occur from dark to light so that the previously printed color layer is not altered in appearance when viewed from the outside of the label.  
           [0024]    If not applied in this manner, any overlap of the colors would distort any previously laid colors and blur the readable data. Because the colors are printed in patches or spots, overlapping layers of color, blends, and gradients do not print well, and printing full color photographs or multicolored graphics is simply out of the question using this method. In addition, because the colors must be premixed and limited in number to conserve costs, the type and variety of ornamentation applied to the transparent medium is significantly limited.  
           [0025]    Even when book jacket protective covers are not worn or when they do not fall off, they provide little, if any, protective utility to the book cover, and the highly stressed portions of the book/book cover like the spine, corners, or the hinges.  
           [0026]    It can be seen that conventional paper book jackets, even with a laminate or a protective coating, are fragile by nature and are not completely effective in protecting a book cover or a book&#39;s printed pages. In addition, paper book jackets easily scuff, fade in color and appearance, and loose the original shine when exposed to moisture, sun, or oil. Moreover, applying a laminate or a protective coating in the traditional process represents an additional step in the process requiring additional processing time, labor, equipment, and laminate or coating materials. Accordingly, it is desired to provide a book jacket that protects the book cover and/or book which is both durable and attractive in appearance, and which does not require an additional external protective cover, even under situations of heavy use.  
           [0027]    It is accordingly the primary objective of the present invention to provide both an improved book jacket and a method for the manufacture of such an improved book jacket. The improved book jacket should be constructed from a transparent or substantially transparent plastic or other printable, transparent material to resist the sort of destruction which paper book jackets are subject to. It is a closely related objective of the present invention that the improved book jacket construction have increased durability over conventional book jacket constructions, and that it maximize protection of the printed ink, color, and design of the book jacket, as well as provide protection and reinforcement to the highly stressed portions of the book cover such as the corners, the hinge and the spine. The book jacket of the present invention should reduce the chance of damage or injury to a book whenever the book is shipped or transported.  
           [0028]    It is another objective of the present invention to provide an improved book jacket construction in which the second or interior surface is the printed surface of the jacket while the first or exterior surface provides a high gloss appearance and protection for the printed ink, eliminating the need for subsequent lamination or UV coating of the printed side for protection of the book jacket. It is therefore a closely related objective that the improved book jacket construction of the present invention be more efficient to produce than conventional book jacket constructions. It is yet another objective of the present invention that the improved book jacket construction can be manufactured and subsequently joined to books without requiring substantial revision to an existing manufacturing process or investment in new equipment.  
           [0029]    It is a further objective of the invention to provide an improved book jacket with a high gloss, impressive appearance that distinguishes the book cover over conventional book jackets. It is a related objective of the present invention to provide an improved book jacket construction that can additionally be foil stamped, embossed, spot varnished, or have various other special effects such as holograms added before the book cover is joined with a book.  
           [0030]    It is another objective that the improved book jacket construction of the present invention is less expensive and more efficient to maintain than conventional book cover constructions by eliminating the need for libraries or schools to cover the book jackets with protective book jacket covers, thereby reducing the labor and expense of recovering book jackets as they become worn.  
           [0031]    The improved book jacket of the present invention must also be of construction which is both durable and long lasting, and it should also require little or no repair to be provided by the user throughout its operating lifetime. In order to enhance the market appeal of the improved book jacket of the present invention, it should also be of inexpensive construction to thereby afford it the broadest possible market. Finally, it is also an objective that all of the aforesaid advantages and objectives of the improved book cover of the present invention be achieved without incurring any substantial relative disadvantage.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0032]    The disadvantages and limitations of the background art discussed above are overcome by the present invention. With this invention, an improved book jacket is provided which is constructed of a transparent or substantially transparent plastic sheet, which is printed on its second surface in wrong-reading (laterally reversed or mirror-image) orientation, protecting the ink, color, and overall appearance of the book jacket. The plastic jacket sheet can be printed in multiple layers, adding to the unique visual effect of the book jacket.  
           [0033]    Typically, the jacket sheet material of the present invention is provided on core rolls, and will first be “sheeted” or cut to a size predetermined by the final book requirements and the processing equipment. However, pre-sheeted material could also be used. In addition, the rolls of jacket sheet material can be printed using web-offset printing, and cut to the appropriate size after printing.  
           [0034]    The material used for the jacket sheet includes such materials as polyester, nylon, vinyl, thermal laminating films such as materials sold under the registered trademark COVERLAM by Bryce Corporation or its licensees, high density polyethylene films such as those sold under the registered trademark VALERON by Illinois Tools Works, Inc. or its licensees, polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene, or any similar thin, transparent or substantially transparent material.  
           [0035]    In addition, the jacket sheet will generally have a thickness from approximately 0.5 mils to approximately 7.0 mils. However, the thickness of the jacket material may also be influenced by the type and properties of the material selected for the book jacket. For example, the characteristic memory of the plastic or the density of the material may be a consideration. In addition, the type of book and the expected use of the book may also influence the type and thickness of material to be used as the book jacket. For example, in heavy-use applications, the book jacket may be constructed of a thick, more rigid material.  
           [0036]    Once sheeted to the required size, the transparent jacket sheet will contain printable portions corresponding to the front cover flap, the front cover, the spine, the back cover, and the back cover flap of the completed book jacket. A printed layer corresponding to a title, an author, a design, or any other information intended to be located on the book jacket is applied to the second surface of the jacket sheet. The printed layer is applied to the second surface of the jacket sheet in a wrong-reading (laterally reversed or mirror-image) orientation such that, when the book jacket is joined to a book, the printed layer appears in a readable orientation when viewed from the first surface of the jacket sheet (which will correspond to the exterior surface of the book and the folded front and back cover flaps once the book jacket is mounted onto the book).  
           [0037]    The printed layer may cover the entire second surface of the jacket sheet in a layer of ink corresponding to the complete book jacket design. However, the printed layer preferably covers only a portion of the second surface of the jacket sheet, allowing additional printed layers to be applied to the second surface of the jacket sheet, thereby enhancing the appearance of both the exterior surface of the book jacket and the inside flaps of the book jacket.  
           [0038]    Accordingly, after the printed layer of ink is cured and/or dried, additional printed layers can be applied to the second surface of the jacket sheet, adding depth and improving the appearance of the exterior surface of the book. The additional printed layers can include additional artwork or additional information about the book. Further, the additional printed layers can include a backdrop of a single color such as white or black to contrast the first or previously printed layers, or a background design applied in multiple additional printed layers.  
           [0039]    The additional printed layers may be applied to the second surface of the jacket sheet in either a wrong-reading (mirror-image) orientation or a readable orientation depending on the effect desired. Consequently, when viewed from the first surface of the jacket sheet or when viewed from the exterior surface of the assembled book, the exterior surface of the book jacket appears to be multidimensional or otherwise graphically unique.  
           [0040]    In addition, before, after, and/or in between each layer of printing on the jacket sheet, the sheet may be foil stamped, embossed, spot varnished, or have any number of effects such as holograms added to either the first surface of the jacket sheet, or the second surface of the jacket sheet after any subsequent printed layers are cured and/or dried.  
           [0041]    Finally, because the second surface of the book jacket will be the surface of the jacket sheet facing and concealed by the book cover, a solid printed layer may be applied to the second surface of the jacket sheet, such as a solid white layer, so that the second surface appears to contain no printing, or appears blank when the jacket sheet is viewed from the second (interior) surface. The second surface may however be printed to contain a pattern or design, although such a design would not be seen unless the book jacket is removed from the book.  
           [0042]    Thus, when the jacket sheet is completed, the book&#39;s title, cover artwork, or other information intended to appear on the front cover flap, the front cover, the spine, the back cover, and the back cover flap of the completed book jacket is applied so that it is visible only from the first surface of the jacket sheet. That is, the information intended to appear on the exterior face/surface of the book, and on the front and back flaps may not be visible from the second surface/interior facing surface of the book jacket.  
           [0043]    Alternatively, it may be desirable to have a “see-through” or partially transparent book jacket. In this instance, there may remain transparent or substantially transparent portions of the book jacket that do not contain ink, or which contain a transparent covering of ink, permitting one to literally look through the book jacket from the first surface of the jacket sheet to the images or words printed on the book cover of the book. This can give an added dimension of depth to add to the overall appearance of the book. For example, a book may have a character printed on the cover and the partially transparent book jacket may have an environment printed thereupon, such that when the book jacket is on the book the character is visible in the environment. The impression of depth which may be obtained is quite striking, and sets a book with such a cover and book jacket apart from other similar books which do not have this effect.  
           [0044]    In further alternative embodiments of the present invention, the book jacket of the present invention may additionally contain printing on the first surface of the jacket sheet to create a more attractive book cover.  
           [0045]    After printing, the jacket sheet is mated with a book such that the second surface of the jacket sheet faces the exterior surface of the book cover. To do this, the jacket sheet is slid, second surface side up, underneath a book laying open, spine side down, with the front and back covers laying flat. Excess jacket sheet that extends beyond the front and back covers is folded over on to the interior surface of the front and back covers forming the front and back flaps, respectively. This operation can be performed manually, or by conventional processing equipment.  
           [0046]    It may therefore be seen that the present invention teaches both an improved book jacket and a method of making such an improved book jacket. The improved book jacket is constructed of a substantially transparent material such as plastic that is printed on its second surface, preferably in multiple layers, to achieve an attractive and dynamic appearing book jacket. The second surface of the jacket sheet is first printed in a wrong-reading orientation with the designs and information intended for the exterior surface of the book jacket, and the front and back flaps. Typically, the second surface is then printed with an opaque layer of ink, such as white, leaving the interior surface of the book jacket with an essentially unprinted appearance. Alternatively, however, the book jacket of the present invention can be constructed to contain unprinted or see-through portions.  
           [0047]    The improved book jacket of the present invention has a more appealing and glossier appearance as compared to traditional book jacket constructions. Further, the improved book jacket of the present invention is attractive in appearance and highly durable, without the use of either lamination or UV coating. By eliminating the need for laminating or UV coating the book jacket, the improved book jacket of the present invention may be more efficient to produce than are conventional paper book jackets.  
           [0048]    The book jackets of the present invention require no maintenance to preserve the appearance and integrity of the book jacket as originally manufactured. Thus, the book jacket construction eliminates the need for subsequent preservation of the book jacket with protective book jacket covers, saving money on materials and a significant amount of time and labor. Finally, the protective nature of the improved book jacket of the present invention eliminates damage to the book jacket and/or the book during shipping, decreasing the chances of damaged retail or library stock that must be returned, replaced, or repaired at the expense of the publisher.  
           [0049]    The improved book jacket of the present invention is of a construction which is both durable and long lasting, and which will require little or no repair to be provided by the user throughout its useful lifetime. The book jacket of the present invention is also of relatively inexpensive construction to enhance its market appeal and to thereby afford it the broadest possible market. Finally, all of the aforesaid advantages and objectives of the improved book cover of the present invention are achieved without incurring any substantial relative disadvantage.  
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0050]    These and other advantages of the present invention are best understood with reference to the drawings, in which:  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 1 is a plan view of a nonprinted first or front surface of the jacket sheet used to construct the improved book jacket of the present invention, with a corner turned up to show a second or back surface thereof;  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 2 is a plan view of the second surface of the jacket sheet illustrated in FIG. 1, showing wrong-reading (laterally reversed or mirror-image) indicia printed upon the second surface thereof;  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 3 is a plan view of the first surface of the jacket sheet illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, with the indicia printed on the second surface being clearly visible in readable orientation through the jacket sheet;  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 4 is a plan view of the second surface of the jacket sheet illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, showing a second layer of printed indicia applied to the jacket sheet upon the second surface thereof;  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 5 is a plan view of the first surface of the jacket sheet illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, with the second layer of indicia being clearly visible in readable orientation through the jacket sheet;  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 6 is a plan view of the second surface of the jacket sheet illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, showing a third layer of printed indicia applied to the jacket sheet upon the second surface thereof;  
         [0057]    [0057]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the jacket sheet illustrated in FIGS. 1-6 along the line  7 - 7  shown in FIG. 6, showing the jacket sheet and the three layers of printed indicia;  
         [0058]    [0058]FIG. 8 is a plan view of the second surface of the jacket sheet illustrated in FIGS. 1-7, showing additional layers of printed indicia applied to the jacket sheet upon the first surface thereof in readable orientation;  
         [0059]    [0059]FIG. 9 is an isometric view of a book, showing indicia applied the exterior front cover, spine and back cover;  
         [0060]    [0060]FIG. 10 is an isometric view of the book illustrated in FIG. 9, showing indicia applied to the interior front and back covers;  
         [0061]    [0061]FIG. 11 is a plan view of the second surface of a jacket sheet constructed according to the teachings of the present invention, showing unprinted portions thereon;  
         [0062]    [0062]FIG. 12 is a plan view of the first surface of the jacket sheet illustrated in FIG. 11, showing unprinted portions thereon;  
         [0063]    [0063]FIG. 13 is an isometric view of the book illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 aligned with the jacket sheet illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, showing right and left edges of the jacket sheet extending beyond the right edge of the book&#39;s front cover and the left edge of the book&#39;s back cover, respectively;  
         [0064]    [0064]FIG. 14 is a bottom side view of a book jacket constructed in accordance with the present invention joined with a book;  
         [0065]    [0065]FIG. 15 is an isometric view of the book illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 joined with the book jacket illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, with the indicia applied to the book&#39;s exterior front cover, spine, and back cover being clearly visible through the jacket sheet within the unprinted portions thereon; and  
         [0066]    [0066]FIG. 16 is an isometric view of the book illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 joined with the book jacket illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, with the indicia applied to the book&#39;s interior front and back covers being clearly visible through the jacket sheet within the unprinted portions present on the front and back flaps.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0067]    Consistent with the teachings of the present invention, the heart of an improved book jacket is a transparent or semi-transparent jacket sheet  30  of novel construction, illustrated in FIG. 1. The improved book jacket in its simplest form will consist of the jacket sheet  30 , having a first or front surface  32  and a second or back surface  34 . The sheet  30  may have multiple layers of printed indicia (not shown in FIG. 1) applied to the second surface  34  thereof, as discussed below in conjunction with FIGS. 2 through 12, and will then be joined with a book as discussed below in conjunction with FIGS. 13 and 16.  
         [0068]    Referring now to FIG. 1, the construction of the jacket sheet  30  used in the manufacture of an improved soft book cover is described. In addition to the first surface  32  and the second surface  34 , the jacket sheet  30  has a right edge  36 , a left edge  38 , a top edge  40 , and a bottom edge  42 . The first surface  32  of the jacket sheet  30  will become the exterior, readable surface of the book jacket when it is completely assembled on to the cover of a book. The second surface  34  of the jacket sheet  30  will become the interior surface of the book jacket (the surface that faces the book&#39;s front cover, spine, and back cover) when it is mounted onto the cover of a book.  
         [0069]    The jacket sheet  30  is constructed of a flexible transparent or semi-transparent material. The transparent or semi-transparent material may be constructed of polyester, nylon, vinyl, thermal laminating films such as materials sold under the registered trademark COVERLAM by Bryce Corporation or its licensees, high density polyethylene films such as those sold under the registered trademark VALERON by Illinois Tools Works, Inc. or its licensees, polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene, or any similar thin, transparent or substantially transparent material. In addition, the jacket sheet  30  material may be tinted a visible color, provided that the jacket sheet  30  remains substantially transparent.  
         [0070]    The jacket sheet  30  preferably has a thickness from approximately 0.5 mils to approximately 7.0 mils. However, the thickness of the jacket sheet  30  may be influenced by the type of material to be used for the book jacket, and, therefore, it is contemplated that the jacket sheet  30  may be thicker or thinner than the preferred thickness range. Accordingly, the jacket sheet  30  may be flexible if constructed of a relatively thin material, or the jacket sheet  30  may be relatively rigid if constructed of a relatively thick material.  
         [0071]    In addition, the type of book and expected use of the book may also influence the type and thickness of material to be used for the book cover. For example, a book for circulation in a library may require a more durable book jacket, and therefore will have a book jacket constructed of a thicker or stronger jacket sheet material.  
         [0072]    The transparent or semi-transparent material is typically supplied as a roll wound onto a core, and may be cut into sheets, thereby forming the jacket sheet  30 . Alternatively, the transparent or semi-transparent material may be supplied from the manufacturer in pre-sheeted form and subsequently trimmed, if needed, to a specific size. Further, if the jacket sheet  30  material is provided on rolls, the jacket sheet  30  can alternatively be web printed, and then sheeted to a specific size.  
         [0073]    The jacket sheet  30  will generally be rectangular in shape, and is sized corresponding to the requirements of the final book product, page size, and processing equipment requirements. However, in order to provide front and back cover flaps, the jacket sheet  30  will typically have a greater width than the combined width of the front cover, the spine, and the back cover of the book in which it is covering. It will at once be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the jacket sheet  30  can be of any shape or size required by the final book product.  
         [0074]    As illustrated in FIG. 1, the jacket sheet  30  has an overall surface area, indicated generally at  44  which includes a front flap portion indicated generally at  46 , a front cover portion indicated generally at  48 , a spine portion located generally at  50 , a back cover portion indicated generally at  52  and a back flap portion indicated generally at  54  (shown separated by dashed lines for illustrative purposes in FIG. 1). As will be explained in detail below, information printed within the front flap portion  46  of the jacket sheet  30  will appear on the front flap of the book jacket; information appearing on the front cover portion  48  will appear on the front cover of the book jacket; and information appearing on the spine portion  50  will appear on the spine of the book jacket. Likewise, information printed within the back cover portion  52  of the jacket sheet  30  will appear on the back cover of the book jacket, and information printed within the back flap portion  54  will appear on the back flap of the book jacket.  
         [0075]    Referring next to FIGS. 2 and 3, a first layer of printed indicia  56  such as the book&#39;s title, cover image, and/or cover artwork intended to appear on the exterior surface of the book jacket is printed in a wrong-reading (laterally reversed or mirror image) orientation directly onto the second surface  34  of the jacket sheet  30 . Accordingly, the first layer of printed indicia  56  appears in a mirror-image or wrong reading direction when viewed from the second surface  34  (as shown in FIG. 2). Because the jacket sheet  30  is transparent or semi-transparent, the first layer of printed indicia  56  is visible and appears in a right-reading (readable) orientation when viewed from the first surface  32  of the jacket sheet  30  (as shown in FIG. 3).  
         [0076]    As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, after the first layer of printed indicia  56  is cured and/or dried, a second layer of printed indicia  58  can be applied to the second surface  34  of the jacket sheet  30 . The second layer of printed indicia  58  can include additional artwork, information about the book, or any other design that is intended to appear on the exterior surface of the jacket sheet  30  (which will be the exterior surface of the book and exterior surface of the interior flaps when the book jacket is mounted onto a book.)  
         [0077]    As further illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, if the second layer of printed indicia  58  includes written words or images that must appear in a readable orientation when viewed from the first or exterior surface  32  of the jacket sheet  30 , those words or images are printed in a wrong-reading orientation on the second surface  34  of the jacket sheet  30  over the first layer of printed indicia  56  (as shown in FIG. 4). Because the jacket sheet  30  is transparent or semi-transparent, any portion of the second layer of printed indicia  54  printed in wrong-reading orientation appears in a right-reading (readable) orientation when viewed from the first surface  32  of the jacket sheet  30  (as shown in FIG. 5).  
         [0078]    However, if the second layer of printed indicia  58  includes images or designs that have no preferred readable orientation, or are essentially symmetrical, those images or designs can be printed in either a wrong-reading orientation or a right-reading (readable) orientation on the second surface  34  of the jacket sheet  30  over the first layer of printed indicia  56 , depending on the effect desired (as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5).  
         [0079]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the printed material intended to appear on the front flap, the front cover, the spine, the back cover, and the back flap of the book jacket may be printed in as many layers as desired or required to achieve a given visual effect. Such printed layers can add depth and intensify the visual effect of the exterior surface of the completed book jacket, enhancing the overall appearance of the book itself.  
         [0080]    Accordingly, each of the printed layers  56  and  58  can cover as much or as little of the overall surface area  44  of the jacket sheet  30  as necessary to achieve the visual effect desired for the book jacket. For instance, each of the printed layers  56  and  58  may occupy only a portion of the overall surface area  44  of the jacket sheet  30 , with subsequently applied printed layers being used to fill the non-printed portions of the overall surface area  44 . Alternatively, a layering effect may be achieved by including printed layers that overlap each other on at least a portion of the overall surface area  44 , leaving a portion of the overall surface area  44  of the jacket sheet  30  completely free from printing. Further, a printed layer can include 100% coverage of the overall surface area  44  of the jacket sheet  30 .  
         [0081]    For example, after the second layer of printed indicia  58  is cured and/or dried, a third printed layer  60  can be applied to the second surface  34  of the jacket sheet  30  over the first and second layers of printed indicia  56 ,  58 , as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The third printed layer  60  covers 100% of the overall surface area  44  (shown partially cut away near the bottom edge  42  for illustrative purposes in FIG. 6). The third printed layer  60  can be a multicolored backdrop overlaying the first and second layers of printed indicia  56  and  58 , respectively, or the third printed layer  60  can be a solid color such as black or white to contrast the first and second layers of printed indicia  56  and  58 , respectively.  
         [0082]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that when the book jacket is mounted onto a book the first surface will be the surface viewed, and the second (interior) surface of the jacket sheet  30  will be facing, and thus will be concealed by, the front cover, the spine, and the back cover of the book. Therefore, the last layer printed on to the second surface  34  of the jacket sheet  30  can be a solid color covering 100% of the overall surface area  44  so that the second surface contains no readable printed material, such as the indicia  60 , illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. Alternatively, additional layers of indicia  62  and  64  can be printed on the second surface  34  of the jacket sheet  30  over the layers of indicia  56 ,  58 ,  60  so that the interior surface of the jacket sheet  30  contains printed information or designs which will be readable if the jacket is removed from the book, as illustrated in FIG. 8.  
         [0083]    In addition, before, after, and/or in between each layer of printing, the jacket sheet  30  may be foil stamped, embossed, spot varnished, or have various other special effects/ornamentation, such as holograms, added to the second surface  34  of the jacket sheet  30 . Other embodiments of the improved book jacket of the present invention can additionally include printed indicia, foil stamping, varnish, or other various effects, such as holograms, applied to the first surface  32  of the jacket sheet  30  either in addition to or instead of the printed indicia  56 ,  58 , and  60  applied to the second surface  34  of the jacket sheet  30 .  
         [0084]    Moreover, as will become evident in FIGS. 9 through 15, the jacket sheet  30  may contain a portion of its overall surface area  44  that contains no printing at all and is completely free from ink, or contains only a transparent layer of ink, permitting the book jacket to have transparent or “see through” look when assembled with a book. Thus, any ornamentation or printed material appearing on the book&#39;s exterior front cover, the spine, or the back cover may be seen from the first surface  34  of the jacket sheet  30  through the front cover portion  48 , the spine portion  50 , or the back portion  52 , respectively, depending on the overall coverage of the previously applied layers of ink. Likewise, any ornamentation or printed material appearing on the interior surface of the book&#39;s front or back covers may be seen from the first surface  34  of the jacket sheet  30  through the front flap portion  46  or the back flap portion  54 , respectively.  
         [0085]    Referring to FIG. 9, a book  66  has a book cover  68  including a front cover  70 , a spine  72 , and a back cover  74 . The book cover also contains a right edge  76 , a left edge  78 , and corners  80 ,  82 ,  84 , and  86 . The front cover  70 , the spine  72 , and the back cover  74  contain printed material  88  (such as the book&#39;s title, author, publisher information, and/or a library call number) and may also contain additional ornamentation  90  such as a hologram or embossing located on the exterior surface of the book cover  68 . FIG. 10 illustrates the interior surface of the front cover  70  and the back cover  74  which may be embossed or may contain ornamentation  92  and/or printed material  94  such as publisher or copyright information.  
         [0086]    As illustrated in FIG. 11, the jacket sheet  30  contains a layer of indicia  96  printed on the second surface  34  of the jacket sheet  30  over the layers of indicia  56 ,  58 . FIGS. 11 and 12 show that the indicia  56 ,  58 , and  98  occupies only a portion of the overall surface area  44  of the jacket sheet  30 , leaving see-through, unprinted portions  98  of the overall surface area  44  of the second surface  34  of the jacket sheet  30  completely unprinted and free from ink. The first surface  32  of the jacket sheet  30  thus has the portions  98  in addition to the printed indicia  56 ,  58 , and  96 , or any additional printed layers or special effects that encompass the complete book jacket design.  
         [0087]    Layers of indicia are printed on the second surface  34  of the jacket sheet  30  using any one-color or multi-color sheetfed press known to those skilled in the art. Preferably, an ultraviolet (UV) cured ink will be used for printing. However, a heatset ink, a coldset ink, or any other conventional ink known to those skilled in the art, or any combination thereof, may also be used to print the layers of indicia on the second surface  34  of the jacket sheet  30 . In addition, web offset printing may be used to print the jacket sheet  30  of the improved book jacket of the present invention. In the web-offset application, the transparent or semi-transparent material would be provided on rolls, and the material would be web-printed and subsequently cut into the jacket sheets  30  of the required size.  
         [0088]    After the printing of the jacket sheet  30  is complete, the jacket sheet  30  can be trimmed or finished in any manner known to those skilled in the art in preparation for mounting the jacket sheet  30  on the book  66 . If a thicker material is used for the jacket sheet  30 , the sheet  30  may be scored to facilitate folding the right and left edges  36  and  38  of the jacket sheet  30  around the right and left edges  76  and  78  of the book cover  68 , respectively. After finishing, the printed jacket sheet  30  is ready to be joined with the book  66 .  
         [0089]    [0089]FIGS. 13 and 14 best illustrate how the jacket sheet is assembled with the book, forming the book jacket of the present invention. While the book  66  is laying flat with its front cover  70  and back cover  74  completely open (as shown in FIG. 10), the jacket sheet  30  is slipped, with its second surface  34  facing the exterior surface of the book&#39;s cover  68 , underneath the book  66 . The front cover portion  48 , the spine portion  50 , and the back cover portion  52  of the jacket sheet  30  are aligned with the front cover  70 , the spine  72 , and the back cover  74  of the book  66 , and are thus not visible in FIG. 13. The right edge  36  of the jacket sheet  30  extends beyond the right edge  76  of the book cover  68 , and the left edge  38  of the jacket sheet  30  extends beyond the left edge  78  of the book cover  68 .  
         [0090]    As illustrated in FIG. 14, the front flap portion  46  of the jacket sheet  30  is then folded around the right edge  76  of the book cover  68  so that the front flap portion  46  lies against the interior surface of the front cover  70  of the book  66 . Likewise, the back flap portion  54  of the jacket sheet  30  is folded around the left edge  78  of the book cover  68  so that the back flap portion  54  lies against the interior surface of the back cover  74  of the book  66 .  
         [0091]    [0091]FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate the jacket sheet  30  mounted on the book  66  to thereby form a book jacket. It can be seen that the printed material  88  and ornamentation  90  present on the exterior surface of the front cover  70 , the spine  72 , and the back cover  74  can be seen through the unprinted portions  98  of the jacket sheet  30  from the exterior/first surface of the book jacket. Likewise, the ornamentation  92  and the printed material  94  present on the interior surface of the front cover  70  and back cover  74  can be seen through the unprinted portions  98  of the jacket sheet  30  from exterior/first surface of the book jacket. As can be seen, the unprinted portions  98  of the jacket sheet  30 , in addition to the layering effect of the ink applied to the second surface  34  of the jacket sheet  30 , provide the book jacket with a multi-dimensional and more unique appearance than a conventional paper book jacket of conventional construction.  
         [0092]    It may therefore be seen that the present invention teaches both an improved book jacket and a method of making such an improved book jacket. The improved book jacket of the present invention is constructed of a novel transparent or semi-transparent jacket sheet which is printed in multiple layers on the second surface of the jacket sheet. The jacket sheet is both durable and flexible, providing not only the book jacket, but the book and the book cover, with an enhanced useful life. Accordingly, the improved book jacket construction of the present invention protects the color and appearance of the book&#39;s outer surface better than a book cover constructed of laminated paper or paper-based material.  
         [0093]    Further, it may be seen that the present invention provides an improved book jacket that is constructed of a plastic material which provides the book jacket with increased strength and durability, especially in highly stressed areas of the book jacket like the corners, hinges, and spine areas. As such, the improved book jacket of the present invention will outlast conventional book jackets, without requiring the additional expense of covering the book jacket to increase its life, as is commonly done today. The improved book jacket of the present invention additionally has a superior luster as compared to conventional book jackets.  
         [0094]    Moreover, it may be seen that the present invention provides an improved book jacket that is noticeably more attractive and glossier in appearance than conventional book jackets, rendering the book product more eye-catching and appealing to consumers. The glossier appearance of the book jacket of the present invention further enhances the book jacket&#39;s printed images and wording, also rendering the book product more attractive to consumers.  
         [0095]    Although an exemplary embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described with reference to particular embodiments and applications thereof, it will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art that a number of changes, modifications, or alterations to the invention as described herein may be made, none of which depart from the spirit or scope of the present invention. All such changes, modifications, and alterations should therefore be seen as being within the scope of the present invention.