US4371194A — Universal binding for making variable sized books…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 173 words

A book cover structure of the type having front and back covers and sheets bound therebetween, the improvement of a backbone area joined with the front and back covers, the backbone area before binding initially having parallel strips of hot melt adhesive thereon and ribbed rows of hot melt adhesive with each ribbed row alternated with one of said strips of hot melt adhesive across the width of a backbone area, and spaced score lines located between said parallel strips and said ribbed rows in parallel relation relative to one another to enable the front and back covers to be flexed along selectable score lines relative to the backbone area, said ribbed rows of hot melt adhesive and said strips after being heated comprising means holding said sheets in bound engagement with said backbone area, said ribbed rows of hot melt adhesive initially extending across the score lines and thus providing adhesive over the associated score line, the covers being folded at a pair of said score lines relative to said backbone area.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 173 words

A book cover structure of the type having front and back covers and sheets bound therebetween, the improvement of a backbone area joined with the front and back covers, the backbone area before binding initially having parallel strips of hot melt adhesive thereon and ribbed rows of hot melt adhesive with each ribbed row alternated with one of said strips of hot melt adhesive across the width of a backbone area, and spaced score lines located between said parallel strips and said ribbed rows in parallel relation relative to one another to enable the front and back covers to be flexed along selectable score lines relative to the backbone area, said ribbed rows of hot melt adhesive and said strips after being heated comprising means holding said sheets in bound engagement with said backbone area, said ribbed rows of hot melt adhesive initially extending across the score lines and thus providing adhesive over the associated score line, the covers being folded at a pair of said score lines relative to said backbone area.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 89 words

The book cover structure of claim 1 further characterized by at least one of said covers having a second set of spaced parallel score lines adjacent an outer edge remote from said backbone area and disposed in parallel relation relative to said strips, at least one of the score lines in the second set being foldable leaving the outer edge in lapped relation relative to the associated cover, the score lines in the second set being alternatively usable depending on the number of sheets bound to the backbone area.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 29 words

The book cover structure of claim 2 further characterized by the cover having said second set of score lines positioned outwardly beyond an outer edge of the other cover.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 38 words

The book cover structure of claim 1 further characterized by the backbone area having more than two score lines thus enabling a backbone to be made of different widths depending upon the number of sheets to be bound.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 76 words

The book cover structure of claim 1 further characterized by at least some of the score lines being arranged in paids with each pair positioned inside of an associated pair of said spaced parallel strips, the associated ribbed row of hot melt adhesive being located between the score lines in the associated pair of score lines, some of said strips remaining between the covers and the facing ones of said sheets acting as separators after binding.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 40 words

The book cover structure of claim 1 further characterized by said ribbed rows of hot melt adhesive comprising a linked chain of ribs with the ribs extending across the associated score lines in proximity to the associated hot melt strips.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 65 words

The book cover structure of claim 1 further characterized by at least some of said ribbed rows of hot melt adhesive each having a common center row area, and by further having the ribs projecting in opposite directions away from said common center row area, the ribs being of sufficient length to intersect and crossover the associated score line and to contact the adjacent strip.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 131 words

A book cover structure of the type having front and back covers for binding sheets therebetween, the improvement of a backbone area joined with the front and back covers, the backbone area having parallel strips of hot melt adhesive thereon which are generally rigid in the cold state, score lines positioned between said parallel strips in parallel relation relative thereto to enable the front and back covers to flex along selectable score lines relative to the backbone area, and flexible bridge means of hot melt adhesive extending between adjacent strips of hot melt adhesive while overlying said score lines comprising means for holding sheets in bound engagement with said backbone area, the bridge means comprising transverse rows of hot melt adhesive ribs each having a thickness on the order of 0.015".

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 131 words

A book cover structure of the type having front and back covers for binding sheets therebetween, the improvement of a backbone area joined with the front and back covers, the backbone area having parallel strips of hot melt adhesive thereon which are generally rigid in the cold state, score lines positioned between said parallel strips in parallel relation relative thereto to enable the front and back covers to flex along selectable score lines relative to the backbone area, and flexible bridge means of hot melt adhesive extending between adjacent strips of hot melt adhesive while overlying said score lines comprising means for holding sheets in bound engagement with said backbone area, the bridge means comprising transverse rows of hot melt adhesive ribs each having a thickness on the order of 0.015".

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 88 words

The book cover structure of claim 8 further characterized by at least one of said covers having a second set of spaced parallel score lines adjacent an outer edge remote from said backbone area and disposed in parallel relation relative to said strips, at least one of the score lines in the second set being foldable to leave the outer edge in lapped relation relative to the associated cover, the score lines in the second set being selectively used depending on the number of sheets to be bound.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 29 words

The book cover structure of claim 9 further characterized by the cover having said second set of score lines positioned outwardly beyond an outer edge of the other cover.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 44 words

The book cover structure of claim 9 further characterized by said front and back covers having different widths and with the score lines adjacent said outer edge on one of said covers providing means for adjusting the widths so as to be the same.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 25 words

The book cover structure of claim 8 further characterized by the parallel strips of hot melt adhesive having a thickness on the order of 0.030".

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 38 words

The book cover structure of claim 8 further charaterized by the backbone area having more than two score lines thus enabling a backbone to be made of different widths to adapt to the number of sheets being bound.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 34 words

The book cover structure set forth in claim 8 wherein the back cover is longer than the front cover for trimming the same length as the front cover during the binding of a book.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 158 words

A book cover structure of the type having front and back covers for binding sheets therebetween, the improvement of a backbone area joined with the front and back covers, the backbone area having parallel strips of hot melt adhesive thereon which are generally rigid in the cold state, score lines positioned between said parallel strips in parallel relation relative thereto to enable the front and back covers to flex along selectable score lines relative to the backbone area, and flexible bridge means of hot melt adhesive extending between adjacent strips of hot melt adhesive while overlying said score lines and comprising means for holding sheets in bound engagement with said backbone area, at least some of the score lines being arranged in pairs with each pair positioned inside of an associated pair of said spaced parallel strips, the associated ribbed row of hot melt adhesive being located between the score lines of the associated pair of score lines.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 158 words

A book cover structure of the type having front and back covers for binding sheets therebetween, the improvement of a backbone area joined with the front and back covers, the backbone area having parallel strips of hot melt adhesive thereon which are generally rigid in the cold state, score lines positioned between said parallel strips in parallel relation relative thereto to enable the front and back covers to flex along selectable score lines relative to the backbone area, and flexible bridge means of hot melt adhesive extending between adjacent strips of hot melt adhesive while overlying said score lines and comprising means for holding sheets in bound engagement with said backbone area, at least some of the score lines being arranged in pairs with each pair positioned inside of an associated pair of said spaced parallel strips, the associated ribbed row of hot melt adhesive being located between the score lines of the associated pair of score lines.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 141 words

A book cover structure of the type having front and back covers for binding sheets therebetween, the improvement of a backbone area joined with the front and back covers, the backbone area having parallel strips of hot melt adhesive thereon which are generally rigid in the cold state, score lines positioned between said parallel strips in parallel relation relative thereto to enable the front and back covers to flex along selectable score lines relative to the backbone area, and flexible bridge means of hot melt adhesive extending between adjacent strips of hot melt adhesive while overlying said score lines and comprising means for holding sheets in bound engagement with said backbone area, said rows of hot melt adhesive comprising a linked chain of ribs with the ribs extending across the associated score lines in proximity to the adjacent hot melt strips.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 141 words

A book cover structure of the type having front and back covers for binding sheets therebetween, the improvement of a backbone area joined with the front and back covers, the backbone area having parallel strips of hot melt adhesive thereon which are generally rigid in the cold state, score lines positioned between said parallel strips in parallel relation relative thereto to enable the front and back covers to flex along selectable score lines relative to the backbone area, and flexible bridge means of hot melt adhesive extending between adjacent strips of hot melt adhesive while overlying said score lines and comprising means for holding sheets in bound engagement with said backbone area, said rows of hot melt adhesive comprising a linked chain of ribs with the ribs extending across the associated score lines in proximity to the adjacent hot melt strips.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 144 words

A variably sizable book cover structure of the type having front and back covers for binding sheets therebetween, the improvement of a backbone area joined with the front and back covers, the backbone area having parallel strips of hot melt adhesive thereon which are generally rigid in the cold state, score lines positioned between said parallel strips in parallel relation relative thereto to enable the front and back covers to flex along selectable score lines relative to the backbone area, and flexible bridge means of hot melt adhesive comprising spaced ribs extending between adjacent strips of hot melt adhesive while overlying said score lines and comprising means for holding sheets in bound engagement with said backbone area, the ribs having spaced adhesive-free areas therebetween reducing the volume of adhesive overlying the score lines and enhancing the flexibility of the covers along the score lines.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 144 words

A variably sizable book cover structure of the type having front and back covers for binding sheets therebetween, the improvement of a backbone area joined with the front and back covers, the backbone area having parallel strips of hot melt adhesive thereon which are generally rigid in the cold state, score lines positioned between said parallel strips in parallel relation relative thereto to enable the front and back covers to flex along selectable score lines relative to the backbone area, and flexible bridge means of hot melt adhesive comprising spaced ribs extending between adjacent strips of hot melt adhesive while overlying said score lines and comprising means for holding sheets in bound engagement with said backbone area, the ribs having spaced adhesive-free areas therebetween reducing the volume of adhesive overlying the score lines and enhancing the flexibility of the covers along the score lines.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 25 words

The book cover structure of claim 17 further characterized by the parallel strips of hot melt adhesive having a thickness on the order of 0.030".

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 34 words

The book cover structure set forth in claim 17 wherein the back cover is longer than the front cover for trimming the same length as the front cover during the binding of a book.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1986-01-31	1986-08-02	1987-02-01	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1990-01-31	1990-08-02	1991-02-01	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1994-01-31	1994-08-02	1995-02-01	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Universal binding for making variable sized books and reports

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