Book With Concealed Signal Responsive Tag

A method of manufacturing a book product, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing cover sheet pre-cut to a selected size and defining in portions thereof spaced-apart opposing front cover and back cover for the book product, and defining a spine portion between the two portions for the front cover and the back cover, the spine portion defining a laydown area and a residual non-laydown area, the front cover and the back cover foldable along respective spaced-part lines defined by the spine portion;
• (b) attaching a signal responsive tag for inventory or security purposes to the spine portion in alignment with the laydown area of the spine portion
• (c) binding a plurality of pages together with an adhesive layer applied on a spine side thereof to form a book block;
• (d) cooperatively attaching the book block to the spine portion of the liner sheet so that the signal responsive tag is encased within the adhesive layer and held between the spine portion and the spine side of the book block in alignment with the laydown area of the spine portion during manufacture of the book product and during normal use thereof for book product purposes for concealing the signal responsive tag from casual indication of its presence, the adhesive layer thereafter having a first thickness in the laydown area of the spine and a second thickness in the non-laydown area of the spine, the first thickness of adhesive less than the second thickness of adhesive and the first thickness of adhesive plus a thickness of the signal responsive tag substantially the same as the second thickness,
• whereby the signal responsive tag being responsive to a signal while the opposing portions of the cover sheet that define the front cover and back cover move together foldably along the lines defined by opposing sides of the spine portion for supporting and enclosing the bound assembly within the book product.

A book product, comprising:

• a cover sheet pre-cut to a selected size and defining in portions thereof spaced-apart opposing front cover and back cover for the book product, and defining a spine portion between the two portions for the front cover and the back cover, the spine portion defining a laydown area comprising less than a majority of the spine portion and a residual non-laydown area, the front cover and the back cover foldable along respective spaced-part lines defined by the spine portion;
• a book block having a plurality of pages attached together with an first adhesive layer on a spine side of the book block and the adhesive layer cooperatively attached to the spine portion of the cover sheet;
• a signal responsive tag for inventory or security purposes attached with a second adhesive layer to the spine-side of the book block in alignment with the laydown area of the spine portion, whereby the signal responsive tag is disposed within the adhesive layer between the spine portion and the spine side of the book block for concealing the signal responsive tag from casual indication of its presence and being held within the first adhesive layer after attachment of the book block to the outer cover safely and securely therein during manufacture of the book product and during normal use thereof for book product purposes;
• the first adhesive layer between the spine portion and the spine side of the book block having a first thickness in the laydown area of the spine and a second thickness in the non-laydown area of the spine, the first thickness of adhesive less than the second thickness of adhesive and the first thickness of adhesive plus a thickness of the signal responsive tag substantially the same as the second thickness,
• whereby the signal responsive tag being responsive to a signal while the opposing portions of the cover sheet that define the front cover and back cover are moveable together and apart foldably along the lines defined by opposing sides of the spine portion while supporting and enclosing the book block within the book product.