Abstract:
A book which comprises: 
     first and second rigid covers, 
     a plurality of rigid pages, and 
     binding means attached to an edge of each rigid cover and each rigid page, wherein at least some of said rigid pages are of a different size to others of such rigid pages so that when said book is closed, said plurality of pages is sandwiched between said first and second covers to form a three-dimensional sculpture.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a book. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,819,963 describes a book which has covers which, when closed, form the shape of a fish. All the pages are the are shape and fit between the covers. 
     The number of shapes in which a book as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,819,963 can be made is limited. 
     An object of the present invention is to increase the choice of shapes in which a book can be made. 
     SUMMARY OF THIS INVENTION 
     According to the present invention, there is provided a book, which comprises first and second rigid covers, a plurality of rigid pages, and binding means attached to an edge of each rigid cover and each rigid page, wherein at least some of said rigid pages are of a different size to others of said rigid pages so that when said book is closed said plurality of rigid, pages is sandwiched between said first and second covers to form a three-dimensional sculpture. 
     By varying the sizes of the pages a complex three-dimension sculpture can be formed. 
     Preferably the covers and the pages each have an edge which together define a planar surface to which said binding means are attached. This construction helps ensure that a secure binding can be obtained. 
     Advantageously, at least some of the pages comprise a disc having a projection which extends outwardly from the disc and has an edge which forms part of the planar surface to which the binding means is attached. 
     Preferably, one of said covers forms a base upon which the book can stably stand when closed. The base could take any suitable form, for example a stand, a foot or a pair of feet. 
     Advantageously, the other of said covers forms a top, for example a hat. 
     In one embodiment a side projection extends outwardly from at least one of said pages. Such a side projection may conveniently take the form of an arm. If desired, two or more side projections may be provided which extend from the same or different pages. Conveniently, the side projections are attached, for example adhered, to their associated pages although they could conceivably be formed as an integral part thereof. 
     Preferably, said first and second covers and said plurality of pages are made from plastic. 
     Advantageously, said pages have a thickness of at least 1 mm, preferably at least 2 mm, and advantageously at least 3 mm. 
     Preferably, at least some of the said pages have images applied thereto. Such images may be applied directly or may be formed by applying transfers or adhering printed matter to said pages. 
     For a better understanding of the present invention reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which: 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of a book according to the present invention in a closed state; 
     FIG. 2 shows the book in a front partially open state; and 
     FIG. 3 shows the book in a second partially open state. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 to  3  there is shown a book which is generally identified by reference number  10 . The book  10 , which generally resembles a “Mr Man”, comprises a top  11 , a base  12  and sixteen pages  13  (seen most clearly in FIGS.  2  and  3 ). Each of the pages  13  comprises a substantially circular disc  13 ′ with a projection  15  (best seen in FIG. 3) which lies in the plane of the disc  13 ′ and extends away from the centre of the disc  13 ′. Each page  13  is made of plastics material and is three millimeters thick. 
     The top  11  comprises a substantially circular disc  11 ′ with a projection which lies in the plane of the disc  11 ′ and extends away from the centre of the disc  11 ′. The top  11  has a lower surface which is flat. The upper surface of the circular disc  11 ′ is shaped to form the hat of the “Mr Man”. 
     The base  12  comprises a substantially circular disc  12 ′ with a projection  15  which lies in the plane of the circular disc  12 ′ and extends away from the centre of the circular disc  12 ′. The base  12  has an upper surface which is flat. The bottom surface of the circular disc  12 ′ is shaped to form two feet for the “Mr Man” which also acts as a pedestal on which the book  10  can stand. 
     The projections  15  on the top  11 , base  12  and pages  13  are such that, when the pages  13  are stacked between the base  12  and the top  11 , a planar edge surface  18  is formed by the edges of the projections  15  of the top  11 , base  12 , and pages  13 . 
     A binding material  14  is attached to the planar edge surface  18  formed by the projections  15  to form the spine of the book. The binding material  14  is a piece of fabric which is glued to the planar edge surface  18 . 
     Thus, when the book is closed, the pages  13  form the body of the “Mr Man”. 
     The top  11 , base  12  and pages  13  are made from plastics material which has the advantage of making the book  10  rigid, robust and waterproof. This is a particularly advantageous feature as the book  10  is designed for use by a child. 
     The rigid nature of the pages  13  enables two side projections  16   a,    16   b,  forming the arms of the toy character, to be attached to one of the pages  13 , as shown most clearly in FIG.  2 . The two side projections  16   a,    16   b  project away and out of the plane of the pages  13  to which they are attached. The projection  16   a  and  16   b  are attached to the page  13  using an adhesive. 
     Printed images  17  are formed on adhesive paper which is attached to the pages  13  of the book  10 . This has the advantage that the writing can be printed on the adhesive paper before the adhesive paper is attached to the book. 
     It will be noted that the disc  13 ′ of the pages  13  are not all the same size. By varying the size and, if necessary, the shape of the discs  13 ′ a complex three-dimensional sculptures can be formed when the book is closed. 
     A number of modifications can be made to the above-described book without departing from the concept of the invention, for example, it will be appreciated that the particular sculpture of the three-dimensional structure formed when the book is closed does not have to be as shown in the accompanying figures. In fact, the versatility in which books according to the present invention can be shaped allowing many different three-dimensional sculptures be formed is a major advantage of the invention. In particular, the shape of each page need not be circular but may be any other shape, for example oval. 
     The book may also contain a different number of pages, and these pages may have different thickness compared with the first embodiment. The size of the pages may differ in scale, in outline or in a combination thereof. However, as the book is intended for children, it is preferable that the book contains less than thirty pages and that the thickness of the pages  13  is greater than one millimeter. 
     While the top  11 , base  12  and pages  13  of the preferred embodiment are made using plastics, material, other material such as wood can also be used. 
     Although in the preferred embodiment two projections  16   a,    16   b  project away from a single page  13 , additional projection could be added and all the projections need not be attached to the same page  13 . 
     Fastening means could be included to hold the book in the closed state as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,819,963. This would allow the book to be moved around while hold in the closed state. 
     Although in the preferred embodiment images are written on adhesive paper and the adhesive paper is subsequently attached to the pages  13 , the images could be directly written or printed on the pages  13 . 
     STATEMENT OF UTILITY 
     The invention described above provides a book which, as it can also serve as a toy, can encourage young children to improve their reading skills.