This invention relates to folding maps, and more particularly to folding maps having quick and easy access to a desired portion of the map.
When trying to locate a desired geographical area on a conventional folding map, there is no way to determine, before opening the map, on what part of the map the desired area is printed. Further, even if the particular area is know, it is usually necessary to unfold a large part, if not all, of the map in order to locate and view the desired area. Also, refolding a conventional folding map after it has been unfolded is notoriously difficult.
Several folding maps have been designed to overcome these drawbacks with conventional maps. One such map is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,210,347. This map is made up of a sheet which has a plurality of alternating accordion-like folds of decreasing width. The map is split into a north half and a south half, with each half having a plurality of panels which represent contiguous areas. The map further has a key and a color-matching system which allows for identification of the panel representing the desired area.
However, the map described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,210,347 suffers from several disadvantages. Namely, a user often will not want to take the time to use the color-matching identification system, desiring instead a more direct way to identify what area is represented on a given panel. Further, by printed contiguous areas on adjacent panels, the map is restricted to extended representation in only one direction (i.e., east-west), and cannot represent an area extending in more than one direction (i.e., both east-west and north-south). Also, the printing of contiguous areas from panel to panel precludes the use of the exposed edge portions of each panel for printing information concerning the panels thereon.