Phonograph Record Album Package

Abstract

A phonograph record album package made from a blank of sheet material formed to provide at least six printable surfaces and an integral record-receiving pocket.

Description

The prior art indicates numerous examples of phonograph record-receiving pockets or jackets of the type providing an opening for inserting a record therein. Also, phonograph record jackets fabricated from a single blank of sheet material capable of being folded and secured in the folded position to receive and accommodate the record are known. Thus, there are available varying types of jackets for receiving and retaining phonograph records.

However, such prior art phonograph record jackets have not taken full advantage of a record jacket as a merchandising piece which can be utilized as a display package for marketing and selling record albums.

In accordance with the foregoing, the present invention provides a record album package which not only contains a record, but is also a package which itself becomes a part of the merchandising offer. The inventive album package is particularly useful when, for example, the recording ensemble, or group which made or cut the record, wants to be identified with the record. As is know, it is frequently the identification of the recording group with the record which determines the sales volume. Accordingly, pictures of the group and special photos of each of the various artists may be printed on the album package to thereby provide a more effective selling item.

Further, if the customer desires, he can after he buys the album, sever the album along various fold lines to provide a picture poster of a particular artist of his choice.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a phonograph record album package which, in the broadest sense, provides a record jacket with a number of printable surfaces for providing a display device as well as a record-containing jacket.

It is another object of the invention to provide a phonograph record-receiving package which includes an integral pocket so that the record may be received therein.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a record album package which is made of a single sheet of material which may be folded to hold one or more records and has at least six printable surfaces.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a receiving jacket of the foregoing type which may be made from a single blank of sheet material, inexpensive and capable of being manufactured in automatic machinery.

The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank of sheet material from which a preferred embodiment of a phonograph record album package of the invention is made;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an album package being formed from the blank or sheet of FIG. 1, and showing the first folding;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the album package being formed from the blank of FIG. 1 and showing a second folding;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an album package of the invention being formed from the blank of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an edge view of the album package taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a blank of sheet material from which a second embodiment of a phonograph record album package of the invention is made;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an album package being formed from the blank of FIG. 6, and showing the first fold being made;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an album package being formed from the blank of FIG. 6, and showing the next folding operation;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an album package formed from the blank of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the sheet material from which a third embodiment of a phonograph record album package of the invention is made;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an album package being formed from the blank of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an album package being formed from the blank of FIG. 10, and showing a succeeding fold;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the third embodiment of an album package formed from the blank of FIG. 10;

FIG. 14 is a plan view of a blank of sheet material from which a fourth embodiment of a phonograph record album package of the invention is made;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an album package being formed from the blank of FIG. 14;

FIG 16 is a partial top plan view of an album package being formed from the blank of FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 is a partial edge view taken along lines 17-17 of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a partial edge view showing the hinge formed as the album package is folded;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the album package as formed; and

FIG. 20 is an edge view taken along the lines 20-20 of FIG. 19.

FIRST EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a blank of sheet material labeled 11 of any suitable thickness from which a preferred embodiment of the phonograph record album package 12 of the invention is formed. The blank is substantially square in shape and is arranged to have essentially four sections or panels 21, 22, 23 and 24; and, with panel 21 joined to panel 23, panel 23 joined to panel 24, and panel 24 joined to panel 22. Panel 21 is separated from panel 22. The panels 21, 22, 23 and 24 have dimensions to accommodate the diameter of the phonograph record disc to be carried by the album package 12. Panels 21 and 23 are of slightly less dimensions than panels 22 and 24 to assure that there will be no overlapping edges when panels 21 and 23 are folded onto panels 22 and 24, as will be explained. Vertical (as oriented in FIG. 1) fold line 25 is formed between panels 21 and 23, horizontal fold line 26 is formed between panels 23 and 24, and two crease lines 27 are formed between panels 22 and 24. Note that panel 21 is cut or separated from panel 22, for purposes which will become clear hereinafter.

Tabs 28 and 29 are formed along the sides of panel 24 and include fold lines 31 and 32 along the edges of panel 24. The underside surface of the tabs 28 and 29, i.e., the surface not shown in FIG. 1, includes a layer of adhesive material 30 such as glue for purposes which will become clear.

To prepare the album package as a display device, the pictures, photographs, printed materials, etc., are printed on selected ones of the surfaces of the panels 21--24. More specifically, pictures, photographs, written materials, etc., may be on both surfaces 21a and 21b, both surfaces 22a and 22b, and on each of surfaces 23a and 24b (see FIG. 2). As will become clear from the description hereinbelow, the structure of the album package of the invention enables a total of six panel surfaces to be utilized to display the pictures, photographs, printed materials, etc.

In forming the album package, and referring now particularly to FIG. 2, the tabs 28 and 29 are folded onto the surface 24a of panel 24 thus presenting the glued surface layer 30 for adhering to panel 23. Panels 21 and 23 are folded along a fold line 26, out of the plane of the paper, as indicated by the arrows, onto panels 22 and 24. The free edges of surface 23b of panel 23 are then pressed and glued to tabs 28 and 29 to form the pocket 35 for the record disc (see also FIG. 5). Note that panel 23 is not glued or otherwise attached to panel 24, and hence an integral pocket 35 for the associated record is formed between panels 23 and 24 with an opening 36 for inserting or removing the record being formed along crease or fold lines 27.

Next, and now referring particularly to FIG. 3, panel 21 is folded along fold lines 25. And, the last step in forming the album package consists of folding the panel 22 along crease lines 27, as indicated in FIGS. 4 and 5. Note that the crease lines 27 define a spine 33 for closing the opening 36 when panel 22 is folded over panel 21.

SECOND EMBODIMENT

A second embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 6 through 9. The sheet material 40 from which the album package 39 is formed includes two panels 41 and 42 attached to one another along crease lines 47. Panels 41 and 42 are substantially square and of dimensions sufficient to accommodate the associated record disc. Panels 43 and 44 which are of the same height dimension and of half the width of panel 41 are attached to the left and right sides, respectively, of panel 41 along the height dimension. Panels 45 and 46, similar in dimensions to panels 43 and 44, are likewise attached to panel 42.

Vertical fold lines 48, 49, 66 and 67 are formed between the various panels, as shown. The crease lines 47 which are formed between panels 41 and 42 define a spine when panel 41 is folded onto panel 42, as is known. Panel 43 is separate and detached from panel 45, as at 68, and panel 44 is detached and separate from panel 46, as at 69.

FIG. 7 indicates the first steps in forming the album package 39 and consists of folding panels 43, 44, 45 and 46 on each of their respective fold lines 48, 49, 66 and 67 onto the surface of the panels 41 and 42.

Next, as indicated in FIG. 8, panels 41, 43 and 44 are folded onto panels 42, 45 and 46 along the crease lines 47. The completed album package 39 is shown in FIG. 9, and provides a compact, attractive and useful album package.

The associated record disc may be received in the album package 39 on the surface of panel 41 between panels 43 and 44; on the surface of panel 43 between the surface of panels 45 and 46; or, records may be placed in both positions.

THIRD EMBODIMENT

A third embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 10--13. The sheet material 71 from which the album package 70 of this third embodiment is fabricated includes four panels 72, 73, 74 and 75. The panels are substantially square and of a size to accommodate the associated record disc.

The shape of the blank of FIG. 10 is generally similar to an inverted T, with three contiguous panels 72, 73 and 74 forming the top of the T and panel 75 being attached to the center panel 73 and forming the leg of the T.

A pair of a adjacent vertical lines 77 define a spine between panels 72 and 73 when the panels are folded to form the album package. A fold line 76 is formed between panels 73 and 75, and a fold line 80 is formed between panels 73 and 74. A tab 79 is affixed to the lower edge of panel 73 and a fold line is formed between panel 73 and the tab 79.

FIG. 11 shows the folding operation for forming the album package 70. In the first step, the tab 79 is folded along fold line 78 onto the surface of panel 73, and panel 75 is folded along the fold line 76 on the surface of panel 73. Next, see FIG. 12, panel 72 is folded along crease lines 77 onto panel 75, and then panel 74 is folded onto the surface of panel 72 to form the album package of FIG. 13.

FOURTH EMBODIMENT

Another embodiment of the inventive record album package is shown in FIGS. 14--20. FIG. 14 shows the blank 50 from which the album package 51 is formed. Blank 50 is essentially in an L-shape and comprises four panels 52, 53, 54 and 55, each panel being substantially square in shape and of a dimension to accommodate the associated record to be carried by the album package 51.

In this embodiment, panel 52 is attached to panel 53 and a vertical fold line 56 is formed between the panels. Panel 53 is, in turn, attached to panel 54, and a pair of parallel spaced fold lines 57 and 58 are formed between panels 53 and 54 to define a tab area 59 when the panels are folded to form the album package 51. Tab area 59 has an adhesive, such as glue, placed thereon for purposes which will be described hereinafter.

Panel 54 is attached to panel 55 and a horizontal fold line 60 is formed between panels 54 and 55. A single tab 61, similar to tab 29 in FIGS. 1--5, is formed along the lower edge of panel 54 and a fold line 62 is formed between panel 54 and tab 61.

In forming the record album package 51, tab 61 is folded along fold line 62 onto the facing surface of panel 54. Panel 55 is next folded along fold line 60, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 15, onto the facing surface of panel 54, and glued onto tab 61, see also FIG. 16. Panel 53 is next folded along fold lines 58 (see FIGS. 17 and 18) onto the facing surface 55a of panel 55 and tab area 59 is glued onto the surface 55a to form a closure. A hinge is thus formed for panel 53 which enables panel 53 to be swingable thereon as is evident from FIGS. 19 and 20. The album package 51 thus has a pocket 64 formed therein with an opening 65 along the free edge of panels 54 and 55 for receiving the record disc see FIG. 20.

In one version of this embodiment, the panels 53 and 52 are formed to extend past the edge of panels 55 and 54 and opening 65 such that panel 52 can fold over onto the lower surface of panel 54 (see FIG. 20) and thus cover opening 65.

As the next step, panel 52 is folded along fold lines 56 onto panel 53 as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20. Note that, if desired, panel 52 may be folded onto panel 53 before the tab portion 59 on panel 53 is glued onto panel 55.

It will readily be appreciated that in each of the embodiments of the album package of the invention, at least six surfaces are available on which pictures, photographs, printed materials, or other intelligence matter can be shown or carried.

Also, in each of the foregoing embodiments, individual panels may be severed along their fold lines, which fold lines may also be perforated for easy separation, to provide distinct poster or picture panels.

The inventive album packages provide the advantages and features discussed above wherein the record jacket is itself an effective merchandising item.

Claims

1. A record album formed from a unitary blank sheet of material for receiving at least one phonograph record disc in a pocket formed therein comprising a plurality of panels, fold means along selected edges of said panels for enabling the folding of said panels into an album package having at least six readily visible surfaces on which intelligence matter may be carried comprising at least four panels, each panel being integrally joined to another panel along a single side edge thereof, said panels being foldable along said joined edges, at least one closure flap along an edge of one panel projecting outwardly therefrom and being foldable thereon, a panel joined to said one panel being foldable onto said flap to form said pocket, said pocket being closed on at least two sides and having an opening for receiving the phonograph record disc said other panels being foldable on their associated fold edges to provide hinged panels whereby two of said panels each provide at least one readily visible surface on which intelligence matter may be carried and two of said panels each provide two readily visible surfaces when opened to obtain a total of at least six readily visible surfaces on which

2. A record album package formed from a unitary blank of sheet material for receiving a phonograph record disc in an integral pocket formed therein, and having at least six surfaces on which intelligence matter may be carried and comprising four panels with the first panel being integrally connected to the second panel and being delineated therefrom by a first vertical fold line, said second panel being integrally connected to a third panel and being delineated therefrom by a horizontal fold line; and, said third panel being integrally connected to the fourth panel and being delineated therefrom by a spine; side and bottom closure flaps forming an integral part of the blank and projecting outwardly from the bottom and side of said third panel and being foldable onto said third panel, said second panel being foldable on said horizontal fold line onto said third panel and being attachable to said flaps to form said pocket, said pocket being closed on three sides and having an opening for receiving the phonograph record disc extending along said second vertical fold line, said first panel being foldable on said vertical fold line to provide a hinged sheet for the second album package, said fourth panel being foldable along said spine to open and close said opening, whereby said first and fourth panels each provide two surfaces and said second and third panels each provide one surface on which said intelligence matter

3. A record album formed from a unitary blank sheet of material for receiving at least one phonograph record disc in a pocket formed therein comprising a plurality of panels, fold means along selected edges of said panels for enabling the folding of said panels into an album package having at least six readily visible surfaces on which intelligence matter may be carried, wherein said package comprises two panels of a first size attached to one another along one edge, half-size panels connected to the edge of said first two panels, said half-size panels being foldable onto the surface of said first two panels, and said two panels being foldable

4. A record album formed from a unitary blank sheet of material for receiving at least one phonograph record disc in a pocket formed therein comprising a plurality of panels, fold means along selected edges of said panels for enabling the folding of said panels into an album package having at least six readily visible surfaces on which intelligence matter may be carried, wherein said package comprises at least four panels forming an initial T-shape and said panels are foldable onto each other to

5. An album package as in claim 4 wherein said third panel is delineated from said fourth panel by a spine.