Patent Application
20090205558
This invention is related generally to bookmarks and more particularly to multi-purpose bookmarks which serve more than one functional purpose.
There have been a number of prior devices in the field of bookmarks which have departed from the typical sheet-like member style of bookmark. Examples of such inventions in the prior art typically consist of a bookmark which simply marks a certain page in a book or a bookmark which may have a light attached to it. Examples of these prior art bookmarks are disclosed in the following United States patents: U.S. Pat. No. 3,513,806 (Ferrick), U.S. Pat. No. 5,286,060 (Rivera) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,095,846 (Knight).
These bookmarks of the prior art have, however, a number of problems and shortcomings. In many cases such bookmarks are bulky and difficult to fit between the pages of a book. Certain other prior art bookmarks have what is essentially only a single linear strand for placement between pages, and this can create problems of instability. Such instability means that the portion of the bookmark device which is not between the pages can have a tendency to rotate about the linear portion that is between the pages, not to mention the fact that users are accustomed to generally fiat bookmarks for placement between pages.
There is also need for bookmarks that have special features such as being personalized to the particular style of an individual. The prior art does not contain a bookmark that can be personalized to a particular style while also being non-bulky. stable in position and easy to use. A bookmark of this sort would be desirable.
It is an object of this invention to provide a bookmark that has multiple purposes and overcomes some of the problems and shortcomings associated with the prior art.
Another object is to provide a bookmark which is non-bulky, planar and also stable.
Still another object is to provide a bookmark which can be personalized to the specific style of the user while being non-bulky, planar and stable.
These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following descriptions and from the drawings.
This invention meets these needs and overcomes other problems and shortcomings in the prior art with a special bookmark that is non-bulky, light-weight, inexpensive to construct and stable in place. The invention is a bookmark which serves numerous functions.
The bookmark of this invention includes a wire-like elongate member which consists of a between-page portion, a top portion and a spine-adjacent portion. The between-page portion includes a uniplanar bending of the wire-like elongate member. The between-page portion has different subportions which extend in different directions. At least one of the subportions extends along a line that is transverse to the spine-adjacent portion.
In certain desired embodiments the uniplanar between-page portion includes a plurality of subportions which extend along lines that intersect the line of the spine-adjacent portion. In highly preferred embodiments, the spine-adjacent portion is oriented with respect to the between-page portion such that the spine-adjacent portion is extended along a book spine. Preferably, the top portion connects the between-page portion and spine-adjacent portion and is adapted to be positioned over the top edge of a book spine.
Most preferred is where the wire-like elongate member is a single wire constructed of metal. Preferably, the spine-adjacent portion is formed in a non-linear shape. In certain embodiments, the spine-adjacent portion is in the form of a helix or spiral. Highly desirable is where the spiral shape is adapted such that an elongate writing implement is insertable into the spiral.
In highly preferred embodiments, the wire-like elongate member has at least one item threaded thereon and movable therealong. In certain embodiments, the wire-like elongate member has a plurality of items threaded thereon and moveable therealong. Preferably, at least one of the items is selected from the group consisting of a charm, a bead, a gem, a magnet, a wheel, a gear, a bell, a light, a ring, a chain, a button, a clip, a stone, a coin, a time keeper, a line indicator, a ribbon and an identification tag.
In certain preferred embodiments, the between-page portion has a clear pocket and/or a notepad attached to it. The wire-like elongate member preferably may also have a flexible elongate member positioned on it for selected between-page placement.
This invention also includes a pencil-topper which is a wire-like elongate member which has a spiral portion that is adapted to receive an elongate writing implement and an end portion which is a uniplanar bending of the wire-like elongate member. The end portion has different subportions which extend in different directions.
In certain preferred embodiments, the line defining axis of the spiral portion is in the plane of the end portion. Most preferred is where the spiral portion has at least one item threaded on it and movable along the spiral portion. In certain desired embodiments there are a plurality of items threaded onto the spiral portion and movable along. Preferably, at least one of the items is selected from the group consisting of a charm, a bead, a gem, a magnet, a wheel, a gear, a bell, a light, a ring, a chain, a button, a clip, a stone, a coin, a lime keeper, a line indicator, a ribbon and an identification tag.
The drawings illustrate preferred embodiments including the above-noted characteristics and features. The inventive products will be readily understood from the descriptions and drawings. In the drawings:
As illustrated in
As shown in
As illustrated in
The spine-adjacent portion 14 can be formed into a double helix as illustrated in
As shown in
As shown in
The pencil topper 40 has a top end 84 and a bottom end 86. The spiral portion 41 is adapted to receive an elongate writing implement 42 in the bottom end 86 of the pencil topper 40 as illustrated in
A wide variety of materials are available for the various parts discussed and illustrated herein. Although the invention has been shown and described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.
This present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/736,031, filed Apr. 17, 2007, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/797,009, filed on May 2, 2006, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60797009 | May 2006 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 11736031 | Apr 2007 | US |
| Child | 12428990 | US |
