Photo book blank, photo book kit, photo book and method for photo book making

Abstract

FIELD: photo books.SUBSTANCE: group of inventions relates to a blank for producing a photo book, to a kit for producing a photo book, to a photo book and to a method for producing a photo book. The blank comprises a film with two sides, the first side of which is suitable for printing, and a number of elements that are successively applied to the second side of the film, wherein the relative distance between subsequent supporting elements, when said supporting elements pass in the same plane, is alternately equal to or less than one millimetre, or equal to twice the thickness of the supporting element, or differs from it by less than one millimetre.EFFECT: producing a photo book using a plotter.14 cl, 8 dwg

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a blank for making a photobook, a kit for making a photobook, a photobook and a method for making a photobook.

[0002] A photo book is a book or album displaying one or more photographs. Although this application primarily relates to photographs, the invention is obviously also suitable for images, drawings, other types of prints, and the like.

[0003] Traditionally, photo books exist with individual pages bound in a binding, resulting in photographs being placed on separate pages (e.g., publication WO 2008 / 039434 A2). A disadvantage of these photo books is that there is always a small space between pages where the photograph is cropped.

[0004] Photobooks are also known in which the pages near the center are provided with a fold line, allowing printing to occur across this fold line. Although the pages of such photobooks are relatively flat, there is space between the pages. For example, publication FR 2757796 A1 describes a photo album whose pages are made from sheets of photographic paper on which photographs are printed, with the sheets folded and bound. The pages can be made in pairs with a fold around the center line or, in other embodiments, can be assembled into notebooks for binding. The photographic paper can also be made as a single strip, folded accordion-style.

[0005] Another drawback is that these photobooks use the paper on which the photographs are printed. Although the photographs are indeed arranged on different pages, minor damage to the fold lines occurs, as the paper fibers are torn at the fold lines. Therefore, the portion of the photographs located along the fold lines will appear blurry or, in any case, will no longer look beautiful and perfect. Known methods for producing such photobooks rely on the fact that the machines used to produce them are very expensive and can only be used for photobook production. Consequently, photobooks produced using such machines are also very expensive.

[0006] The purpose of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned and other disadvantages. The invention relates to a blank for producing a photo book, wherein the blank comprises a double-sided film (a film with two sides), wherein the first side is suitable for printing, and a series of supporting elements that are sequentially applied to the second side of the film, wherein the relative distance between subsequent supporting elements, when said supporting elements pass in the same plane, is successively equal to or less than one millimeter, or equal to twice the thickness of the supporting element, or differs from it by less than one millimeter.

[0007] The relative distance between the supporting elements is also determined when the supporting elements are located in the same plane. In practice, this means that the film and supporting elements are located flat on the surface, although the blank is intended to form a book, with the supporting elements stacked on top of each other.

[0008] Of course, it is also possible to treat the blank as a final product after printing, without binding it or providing the blank with a cover or anything like that.

[0009] The advantage of the said blank is that the film and carrier materials can be fed into the plotter in a very simple way, and said plotter can then print the photographs on the printable side.

[0010] Therefore, printing this blank does not require any special or expensive equipment. Almost any standard plotter can print film from this blank.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the thickness of the supporting members is from 0.05 to 5 mm, and in the most preferred embodiment, the thickness of the supporting members is from 0.1 to 2 mm.

[0012] The thicknesses listed allow the stock to be fed into virtually any conventional plotter while the carriers listed still provide adequate support for the film.

[0013] Very thin load-bearing elements, up to 0.05 mm thick, are possible when using synthetic materials such as polyester, polyvinyl chloride or polystyrene.

[0014] It is preferable that the film be made of polypropylene.

[0015] The advantage of using polypropylene film is that it produces a very neat fold line with no visible breaks or fiber damage. Therefore, the portions of photos that extend along the fold lines will look better than with regular paper.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the supporting elements are made of a synthetic material, such as polypropylene.

[0017] The advantage of such synthetic materials is that they do not absorb liquid and therefore also do not swell so that the bonded film could become deformed.

[0018] In other possible embodiments, the supporting elements can also be made of metal, plastic-coated cardboard or laminated plastic-coated cardboard or thick laminated paper.

[0019] Untreated wood, cardboard or thick paper are not excluded, but their use is best avoided due to the possibility of moisture absorption by these materials.

[0020] Such materials still have enough strength at limited thickness to support the film.

[0021] It is preferable that the dimensions of the supporting elements are identical or nearly identical to each other.

[0022] This ensures that the supporting elements stack neatly on top of each other without protruding edges or dents.

[0023] It is preferable that the film and the supporting members have such a length and width that the width of the film corresponds to the width of the supporting members.

[0024] This is necessary to ensure sufficient support for the film across its entire width, but at the same time, to prevent the edges of the supporting elements from protruding beyond the film's width. The latter is aesthetically unacceptable.

[0025] It is preferable that the length of the film corresponds to the sum of the lengths of all supporting elements, increased by the relative distances between the supporting elements.

[0026] The advantage of the above is that the film is maximally supported by the supporting elements also along its length, and that the edges of the supporting elements also do not protrude beyond the film along its length.

[0027] In a preferred embodiment, the supporting elements are applied to the film by gluing.

[0028] This provides a strong but quickly formed connection between the supporting elements and the film.

[0029] The invention also relates to a kit for producing a photo book, which comprises a cover and a blank according to the invention.

[0030] The cover comprises a binding element and a spine with two end sheets, wherein the spine comprises a base and two vertical legs, wherein the binding element is applied to the spine of the cover and wherein the binding element comprises a binding sheet, which is applied to the spine of the cover by means of adhesive tape, all of this is fixed in such a way that the two edges of the binding sheet run parallel to the longitudinal direction of the spine, as a result of which the adhesive strip runs near the middle between the two said edges, wherein at the level of the said edges on the side of the binding sheet facing away from the spine, a layer of self-adhesive glue is provided, wherein the said layer of self-adhesive glue is provided with a protective film.

[0031] This cover and template set allows you to create a professional-looking photo book in a very simple way using available materials, with photos that are located on different pages and without visible fold lines.

[0032] The invention also relates to a photo book, wherein said photo book is manufactured with a kit according to the invention, and also relates to a method for manufacturing a photo book according to the invention, wherein the method includes the following steps:

[0033] - obtaining a workpiece according to the invention;

[0034] - feeding the workpiece into the plotter;

[0035] - printing the side of the workpiece suitable for printing;

[0036] - folding the workpiece by alternating folds in the form of convexities and depressions in such a way that the supporting elements are stacked on top of each other;

[0037] - packing the blank in a cover.

[0038] In the preferred embodiment, placing the blank in the cover includes the following steps:

[0039] - installing the blank into the spine of the cover;

[0040] - removing the protective film;

[0041] - applying a layer of self-adhesive glue to the workpiece.

[0042] It is preferable to apply a layer of self-adhesive glue to the blank by closing the cover.

[0043] This method allows you to make a professional looking photo book with photos in a very simple way and using simple materials that continue across different pages and without visible fold lines.

[0044] In order to best demonstrate the characteristics of the invention, a preferred embodiment of a blank for producing a photo book, a kit for producing a photo book, a photo book and a method for producing a photo book according to the invention is described below by way of example without any limitations, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0045] Fig. 1 is a schematic top view of a workpiece according to the invention;

[0046] Fig. 2 shows a side view of the workpiece of Fig. 1, according to arrow F2 in Fig. 1;

[0047] Fig. 3 shows the workpiece in a folded state;

[0048] Fig. 4 shows another version of the folded blank;

[0049] Fig. 5 shows a kit according to the invention;

[0050] Fig. 6 shows a photo book according to the invention;

[0051] Fig. 7 shows the photo book of Fig. 6, opened to a random page;

[0052] Fig. 8 shows the photobook of Fig. 6, opened to another random page.

[0053] Fig. 1 schematically shows a blank 1 containing a film 2 on both sides, the first side 3 of which is suitable for printing, and a number of supporting elements 4.

[0054] The said supporting elements 4 are successively applied to the second side 5 of the film 2, wherein the relative distance between the successive supporting elements 4 in this drawing is alternately equal to or less than one millimeter, or equal to twice the thickness of the supporting element 4, or differs from it by less than one millimeter.

[0055] Figure 2 shows the same blank 1 as Figure 1, but from a different angle. This figure clearly shows that the supporting elements 4 on film 2 are attached using a layer of adhesive 6, which is applied from the side between film 2 and the supporting elements 4.

[0056] Although the adhesive layer 6 in the figure is applied only where the supporting elements 4 are provided, it is also possible that said adhesive layer 6 can be continuously applied over the entire second side 5 of the film 2. However, a disadvantage of such an embodiment is that the spaces between the supporting elements 4 thus become less elastic and that dirt may remain on the adhesive layer 6 in said spaces.

[0057] The adhesive layer 6 can be applied to both the film 2 and the supporting elements 4.

[0058] Please note that film 2 in Fig. 1 and 2 is shown flat, as a result of which all supporting elements 4 pass in the same plane.

[0059] This example also clearly shows that in this case the width of the supporting elements 4 corresponds to the width of the film 2 and that the length of the film 2 corresponds to the sum of the lengths of all the supporting elements 4, increased by the relative distances between the supporting elements 4.

[0060] The thickness of the supporting members 4 in this example is 1.2mm, but it is possible that the specified thickness may be 0.1 to 2mm or even 0.05 to 5mm.

[0061] Film 2 is optionally made of polypropylene, while carrier elements 4 are made of polyester. However, carrier elements 4 may also be made of other synthetic materials, metal, plastic-coated cardboard, laminated plastic-coated cardboard, or laminated thick paper.

[0062] Untreated wood, cardboard or heavy paper are not excluded, but they are best avoided due to their potential to absorb moisture.

[0063] It is also acceptable for film 2 to be made of a printable synthetic material other than polypropylene, such as polyethylene or polyethylene terephthalate.

[0064] Fig. 3 shows the blank 1 of Fig. 1-2, but in this figure the film 2 is folded by means of alternating folds in the form of convexities and depressions in such a way that the supporting elements 4 are stacked on top of each other, forming a stack or set 7.

[0065] In other words, the fold lines are located between the supporting members 4, which means that the supporting members 4 themselves are not folded, but that folds are made between the supporting members 4.

[0066] Figure 4 shows another embodiment in which the film 2 is also applied to the sides of the supporting elements 4 located on the upper and lower sides of the above-mentioned stack or set 7.

[0067] Fig. 5 shows a set 8 consisting of a blank 1, shown in figures 1-3, and a cover 9.

[0068] The cover 9 shown in Fig. 5-8 is given as an example, and the invention is not limited in the use of the indicated type of cover 9. The blank 1 is actually applicable in many different types of cover 9.

[0069] Cover 9 comprises a fastening element 10 and a spine 11 with two end sheets 12. Spine 11, in turn, comprises a base 13 and two vertical legs 14, by means of which fastening element 10 is attached to spine 11 of cover 9.

[0070] The fastening element 10 comprises a fastening sheet 15, which is attached to the spine 11 of the cover 9 using an adhesive tape 16, in such a way that two edges 17 of the fastening sheet 15 extend parallel to the longitudinal direction of the spine 11.

[0071] The adhesive tape 16 passes near the middle between the said two edges 17, whereby at the level of the said edges 17 on the side of the binding sheet 15 facing away from the spine 11, a layer of self-adhesive glue 18 is provided, wherein the said layer of self-adhesive glue 18 is provided with a protective film 19.

[0072] Figure 6 shows a finished photo book 20 made using the kit 8 shown in Figure 3.

[0073] Please note that the protective films 19 have been removed from the binding sheet 15 and that a layer of self-adhesive glue 18 has now been applied to the inside of the end sheets 12.

[0074] Figure 7 shows the same photobook 20 as Figure 6, but in Figure 7, photobook 20 is opened to a random page.

[0075] Because the support members 4 that support the open page are folded almost flatly or closely to each other, and due to the structure of the film 2, there is no visible fold line in the middle of the open page where the support members 4 are adjacent to each other.

[0076] In Fig. 8, photobook 20 is open to another random page. It is clearly visible here that the supporting elements 4 are not attached to each other at any point, and that they are connected to film 2 only by a layer of adhesive 6.

[0077] The method for making such a photo book 20 includes the following steps:

[0078] - obtaining a workpiece 1 according to the invention, as shown in Fig. 1-2;

[0079] - feeding workpiece 1 into the plotter;

[0080] - printing the printable side of the workpiece 1;

[0081] - folding the workpiece 1 by alternating folds in the form of convexities and depressions in such a way that the supporting elements 4 lie on top of each other, as shown in figures 3-4;

[0082] - placing the blank 1 in the cover 9, as shown in figure 5.

[0083] The method for inserting blank 1 into cover 9 in this example includes the following steps:

[0084] - installation of blank 1 into spine 11 of cover 9;

[0085] - removing the protective film 19;

[0086] - applying a layer of self-adhesive glue 18 to the workpiece 1, as shown in Figure 6.

[0087] In this embodiment, the method of applying a layer of self-adhesive glue 18 to the blank 1 is realized by closing the cover 9.

[0088] It is understood that the cover 9 and the fastening element 10, as well as the film 2 and the supporting elements 4, may have any shape or size without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0089] It goes without saying that the adhesive tape 16 between the spine 11 and the fastening element 10 and the self-adhesive layer 18 of the aforementioned edges 17 of the fastening element 10 may also be implemented discretely rather than continuously. For example, adhesive dots applied at a suitable distance from each other so as to form a strip or layer.

[0090] Similarly, the adhesive layer 6 between the film 2 and the supporting members 4 may be applied discretely rather than continuously.

[0091] It is understood that said layer of adhesive 6 can also be applied over the entire area of ​​the second side 5 of the film 2, and not only where the supporting elements 4 are provided.

[0092] As mentioned, cover 9 can be made in a variety of different ways. Blank 1 can be made using many different types of covers 9.

[0093] The blank can also be used as a final product without adding to the cover 9.

[0094] If necessary, the workpiece can also be packed in a customized box or the like.

[0095] The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described as an example and shown in the figures, but also the photobook production blank, photobook production kit, photobook and photobook production method can be implemented according to the invention in all kinds of shapes and sizes that do not go beyond the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A blank for producing a photo book, characterized in that the blank (1) contains a double-sided film (2), wherein the first side (3) is intended for printing, and supporting elements (4) sequentially applied to the second side (5) of the film (2), wherein the relative distance between successively located supporting elements (4), when said supporting elements are in the same plane, is alternately equal to or less than one millimeter, or equal to twice the thickness of the supporting element (4), or differs from it by less than one millimeter.

2. The workpiece according to paragraph 1, characterized in that the thickness of the supporting elements (4) is from 0.05 to 5 mm.

3. A blank according to any of paragraphs 1, 2, characterized in that the film (2) is made of polypropylene.

4. A blank according to any one of paragraphs 1-3, characterized in that the supporting element (4) is made of cardboard, thick paper, wood, metal, synthetic material or similar materials.

5. A workpiece according to any of paragraphs 1-4, characterized in that the dimensions of the supporting elements (4) are identical to each other.

6. A blank according to any one of paragraphs 1-5, characterized in that the film (2) and the supporting elements (4) have a length and a width, wherein the width of the film (2) corresponds to the width of the supporting elements (4).

7. A blank according to any one of paragraphs 1-6, characterized in that the film (2) and the supporting elements (4) have a length and a width, wherein the length of the film (2) corresponds to the sum of the lengths of all the supporting elements (4), increased due to the relative distances between the supporting elements (4).

8. A blank according to any one of paragraphs 1-7, characterized in that the supporting elements (4) are secured to the film (2) by means of a layer of glue (6) applied under the supporting elements (4).

9. A kit for producing a photo book, characterized in that the kit (8) contains a cover (9) and a blank (1) in accordance with any of paragraphs 1-8.

10. The set according to item 9, characterized in that the cover (9) contains a fastening element (10) and a spine (11) with two end sheets (12), wherein the spine (11) contains a base (13) and two vertical legs (14), wherein the fastening element (10) is applied to the spine (11) of the cover (9) and wherein the fastening element (10) contains a fastening sheet (15), which is applied to the spine (11) of the cover (9) by means of an adhesive tape (16), and thus the two edges (17) of the fastening sheet (15) extend parallel to the longitudinal direction of the spine (11), whereby the adhesive tape (16) extends near the middle between the said two edges (17), whereby at the level of the said edges (17) on the side of the fastening sheet (15) facing away from the spine (11), a layer is provided self-adhesive adhesive (18), said layer of self-adhesive adhesive (18) is provided with a protective film (19).

11. A photo book, characterized in that the photo book (20) is made with a set (8) according to any of paragraphs 9, 10.

12. A method for producing a photo book (20), characterized by the fact that it includes the following steps: - obtaining a blank (1) containing a double-sided film (2), wherein the first side (3) is intended for printing, and supporting elements (4) sequentially applied to the second side (5) of the film (2), wherein the relative distance between successively located supporting elements (4), when said supporting elements are in the same plane, is alternately equal to or less than one millimeter, or equal to twice the thickness of the supporting element (4), or differs from it by less than one millimeter; - feeding the workpiece (1) into the plotter; - printing of the printable side of the workpiece (1); - folding the workpiece (1) by alternating folds in the form of bulges and depressions in such a way that the elements (4) lie on top of each other; - packing the blank (1) into a cover (9).

13. The method according to paragraph 12, characterized in that the packaging of the blank (1) in the cover (9) includes the following steps: - installation of the blank (1) into the spine (11) of the cover (9); - removing the protective film (19); - applying a layer of self-adhesive glue (18) to the workpiece (1).

14. The method according to paragraph 13, characterized in that the application of a layer of self-adhesive glue (18) to the blank (1) is carried out by closing the cover (9).

Images