Abstract:
A removable cover for a book has a first member with a body. The body has a first panel and the first panel forms a first pocket with the body. The removable cover has a second member hinge connected to the body to pivot between a first position and a second position. The first position is defined as a closed position in which the second member is on the first member. The second position is defined as an opened position in which the first member is pivoted and elevated relative to the second member. The second member has a second panel with the second panel forming a second pocket with the second member. The book is in the first pocket and is in the second pocket and the cover is positioned on the book.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a cover for a book. More particularly, the present invention relates to a book cover that is a decorative item, which item can be a three dimensional toy.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Book covers are known in the art. One such book cover is a cloth book cover disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,257,622 B1 to Peker. The Peker book cover is a spandex elastic cloth with a spine area, front and back cover portions. Each of the front and the back cover portions has a first pocket and a second pocket. The spine area has a third pocket on an exterior side of the book cover. The third pocket is fashioned to retain pens, pencils, rulers, and the like. The cloth book cover is generally orthogonal and rectangular, and thus, shaped substantially the same as a book.  
         [0005]     The book covers of the prior art have limited usefulness. The covers although providing benefits to protect the book from fire and water penetration generally lack any other functionality.  
         [0006]     Also, a consumer may purchase impulsively, since it will be attractive thereto, a book with a cover that has a geometry that is a three-dimensional toy or play article. Moreover, children typically would like a book cover that simultaneously looks like a toy and is used as a toy. In this manner, a child may play with the cover having the book therein and then at a later time, read the book.  
         [0007]     Accordingly, there is a need for a book cover that may be a toy or play article.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     It is object of the present invention to provide a book cover that is also a toy or play item.  
         [0009]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a book cover that a pair of members each with a structure for easy application to and removal from a book.  
         [0010]     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a book cover that has a pair of deformable or sponge-type members.  
         [0011]     It is still another object of the present invention to provide such a book cover with the first deformable member adapted to pivot relative to the second deformable member to reveal a book therein.  
         [0012]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a book cover with the first deformable member being adapted to pivot relative to the second deformable member to reveal a book therebetween with an aesthetically pleasing design or pattern on an exterior side thereof.  
         [0013]     These and other objects and advantages are achieved by a removable cover for a book according to the present invention. The removable cover has a first member with a body. The body has a first panel. The first panel forms a first pocket with the body. The removable cover also has a second member being hinge connected to the body to pivot between a first position and a second position. The first position is a closed position in which the second member is on the first member. The second position is an opened position in which the first member is pivoted and elevated relative to the second member. The second member has a second panel and the second panel forms a second pocket with the second member. A first binding portion of book is in the first pocket and a second binding portion of the book is positionable in the second pocket, so that the first and second binding portions of the book are in the removable cover. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]      FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of a book cover of the present invention in a closed position.  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the book cover of  FIG. 1  in the closed position.  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is a rear view of the book cover of  FIG. 1  in a partially opened position.  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the book cover of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the book cover along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 4 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 6  is another side view of the book cover of  FIG. 1  in an opened position.  
         [0020]      FIG. 7  is a top view of the book cover of  FIG. 2  in a fully opened position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0021]     Referring to the drawings and in particular  FIG. 1 , there is shown a book cover of the present invention generally represented by reference numeral  10 . The book cover  10  has a three dimensional shape. The shape of the book cover  10  may be any geometry or pattern  12  that provides a three-dimensional toy or play item. The book cover  10  preferably has the pattern  12  substantially indicative of the information topic of the book. In this preferred embodiment, the book cover  10  has the pattern  12  that is the same as the topic of the book disposed therein. Preferably, the book cover  10  is soft and resilient. Accordingly, the book cover  10  is a pattern  12  or an object that a child may manipulate or play with as a toy.  
         [0022]     Referring to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the pattern  12  is a toy automobile. One skilled in the art will appreciate, as noted above, that the pattern  12  may be a racecar, an automobile, an animal, a motorcycle, a transportation device, a character, or any other commercially acceptable pattern known in the art. In this embodiment of the present invention, the pattern  12  has a racecar number, racecar lettering, and images of a windshield, a rear window, side windows, tires, and doors.  
         [0023]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , which shows a rear view of the book cover  10 , the book cover preferably has a first or base member  14  and a second or upper member  16 . Preferably, the first member  14  is connected to the second member  16  to define a space  18  therebetween. Preferably, the first member  14  is connected to the second member  16  by a pivot  20  shown clearly in  FIG. 6 . In this embodiment, the pivot  20  is a line of stitching that connects the first member  14  to the second member  16 . One skilled in the art should appreciate that the pivot  20  may be any other type pivot known in the art for accomplishing the same opening and closing action that complies with the opening and closing of a book.  
         [0024]     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the first member  14  preferably has a base  22 . The first member  14  has a bottom portion  24  or surface that contacts a substance, such as a table or the ground. The bottom surface  24  preferably is relatively flat. The book cover  10  has a resilient member  26 . The resilient member  26  show in  FIG. 5  may be connected to the base  22  or alternatively, formed in the base  22 . The resilient member  26  provides resiliency and support to the book cover  10 . The resilient member  26  may made of foam, wood, a paperboard, a cardboard member, a thermoplastic, a metal or aluminum sheet, a thermoset, a polymer, or any other lightweight or somewhat flexible member known in the art. Most preferably, the resilient member  26  is a die cut plastic sheeting.  
         [0025]     The first member  14  preferably has an interior  15 . The interior  15  of the first member  14  is preferably filled with a material, preferably a soft material. The soft material may be any material known in the art including, but not limited to, foam, cloth, cloth stuffing, packing, paper, cotton or any combinations thereof. The soft material therein preferably cushions the book cover  10  to make the book cover suitable for manipulation by a small child. The second member  16 , similar to the first member  14 , preferably has a second interior  34 . The second interior  34  of the second member  16  is preferably also filled with the soft material. The soft material in the second interior space  34  may be the same as the soft material in the interior space  15  or a different soft material. The second interior space  34  also preferably cushions the book cover  10  to allow the child to manipulate the book cover a toy.  
         [0026]     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the first member  14  preferably has a narrow indentation  28 . The indentation  28  is formed in a first top side  30  of the first member  14  that is in contact with the second member  16  in a closed position. The indentation  28  preferably has a height that is complementary to a thickness of the book. The indentation  28  allows the book to rest in the indentation and the second member  16  to rest on the first member  14  with the book therebetween in an aesthetically pleasing manner.  
         [0027]     The second member  16  preferably forms a second top side  32  of the book cover  10 . The second top side  32  preferably has a curvature to form the pattern  12 , however one skilled in the art should appreciate that the book cover  10  may be formed as any suitable pleasing shape known in the art to grasp the book cover  10 .  
         [0028]     The second member  16  preferably pivots about the pivot  20  from the first position to the second position by application of a pulling or tensile force on the second member  16  by the user. The second member  16  preferably pivots about the pivot  20  to expose the space  18  therebetween in a direction of reference arrow A.  
         [0029]     The space  18  therebetween is adjacent to the indentation  28  in the first member  14 . Preferably, the indentation  28  of the first member  14  is preferably any sharp recess in the first member to allow the book to rest therein. The indentation  28  preferably is generally orthogonal shaped and has a complementary size to receive a book therein. One skilled in the art should appreciate that the indentation  28  may in other embodiment have a size that is larger or smaller to compensate for differently sized books such as a paperback book, a hardcover book or a magazine.  
         [0030]     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the first member  14  preferably has a first book jacket portion  36  therein. The first book jacket portion  36  is preferably stitched on three sides thereof to provide one side that is open for receipt of a book jacket or cover. The first book jacket portion  36  is preferably made from a cloth material and is connected to the first top side  30  of the first member  14  by a stitching operation. However, one skilled in the art should appreciate that the first book jacket portion  36  may be formed from a molding operation, or formed by a connection operation such as by adhering with an adhesive or alternatively by being integral with the first member  14 . Preferably, the first book jacket portion  36  may be any member known in the art that is connected to the first top side  30  of the first member  14  for forming a first pocket  38  therein. Preferably, the first pocket  38  selectively retains a first jacket or cover of a book.  
         [0031]     The second member has a second bottom side  40  with a second book jacket portion  42 . The second book jacket portion  42  preferably is also a relatively thin piece of fabric that is stitched to the second bottom side  40  of the second member  14 . The second book jacket portion  42  is also preferably stitched on three sides thereof to provide one side that is open for receipt of a book jacket or cover. The second book jacket portion  42  may be any member known in the art for forming a second pocket  44 . Preferably, the second pocket  44  selectively retains a second jacket or the cover of the book. Most preferably, the first book jacket portion  36  and the second book jacket portion  42  cooperate with one another and are disposed in a complementary location relative to one another. Preferably, the first book jacket portion  36  and the second book jacket portion  42  are disposed substantially adjacent to one another when the book cover  10  is in the opened position. In this manner, a book provider may open a book and place each jacket of the book in the respective first book jacket portion  36  and the second book jacket portion  42 . Thereafter, the book provider may close the first member  14  relative to the second member  16  with the book in the space  18  and place the book cover  10  on a counter for sale in a removable manner.  
         [0032]     The book cover  10  further has a flap  46 . Preferably, the flap  46  is a resilient member that is connected to the second member  16  at an end thereof. The flap  46  has a gripping portion. The flap  46  selectively manipulates the second member  16  from the first position to the second position to read and expose the book to the user to allow the user to read the book. Referring again to  FIG. 3  the flap  46  preferably has a connector  48  being connected thereto. The connector  48  is preferably a Velcro fastener. Alternatively, the connector  48  may be another connector such as one selected from the group consisting of a mechanical connector, a hook, an adhesive or any combination thereof. The connector  48  facilitates the book being retained in the space  18  when the book cover  10  is lifted off of the ground and conveniently retains the book therein. One skilled in the art should appreciate that the connector  48  should be adequate and strong to maintain the first member  14  being closed relative to the second member  16  even when the book cover  10  is shaken such as during use as a toy item or playing by a child. Preferably, the flap  46  has a portion of the connector  48  or a section of a hook material on the flap. The section of hook material on the flap  46  then mates with a section of loop material on the first member  14 . Alternatively, the section of hook material may be disposed on the first member  14  and the section of the loop material may be disposed on the flap  46 .  
         [0033]     The first member  14  and the second member  16  preferably are formed in the pattern  12 . One skilled in the art should appreciate that the pattern  12  may be any other indicia that corresponds to a subject matter and/or topic of the book to make the book cover  10  be aesthetically pleasing and, perhaps, facilitate impulse purchasing of the book and book cover. Also, the book cover  10  can itself be a toy or other play item. One skilled in the art should further appreciate that the book cover  10  has dual functionality.  
         [0034]     One such problem in the art is that although book covers of the prior art are directed to children&#39;s books there has been a general failure of others to render the children&#39;s books used as a play item. The book cover  10  of the present invention is safe to be handled by a child, and in fact pleasing and appealing to a child. This aspect of the present invention is a benefit that contrast greatly with known book covers.  
         [0035]     It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the present invention. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances.