BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1A is a top view of one embodiment of the bookmark.
FIG. 1B is an isometric view of the line indicator.
FIG. 1C is a bottom view of one embodiment of the bookmark.
FIG. 1D is a cross sectional view of one embodiment of the bookmark taken along lines 1D-1D in FIG. 1A.
FIG. 1E is an exploded view of one embodiment of the bookmark taken along lines 1E-1E in FIG. 1D.
FIG. 2A is a top view of another embodiment of the bookmark.
FIG. 2B is an isometric view of the line indicator.
FIG. 2C is a bottom view of another embodiment of the bookmark.
FIG. 2D is a cross sectional view of another embodiment of the bookmark taken along lines 2D-2D in FIG. 2A.
FIG. 2E is an exploded view of another embodiment of the bookmark taken along lines 2E-2E in FIG. 2D.
FIG. 3A is a top view of another embodiment of the bookmark.
FIG. 3B is an isometric view of the line indicator.
FIG. 3C is a bottom view of another embodiment of the bookmark.
FIG. 3D is a cross sectional view of another embodiment of the bookmark taken along lines 3D-3D in FIG. 3A.
FIG. 3E is an exploded view of another embodiment of the bookmark taken along lines 3E-3E in FIG. 3D.
FIG. 4A is a top view of another embodiment of the bookmark.
FIG. 4B is an isometric view of the line indicator.
FIG. 4C is a bottom view of another embodiment of the bookmark.
FIG. 4D is a cross sectional view of another embodiment of the bookmark taken along lines 4D-4D in FIG. 4A.
FIG. 4E is an exploded view of one embodiment of the bookmark taken along lines 4E-4E in FIG. 4D.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
As seen in FIG. 1, the numeral 10 refers generally to the improved bookmark. The bookmark 10 is comprised generally of a panel member 12. The panel member 12 has a top end 14, bottom end 16, front side 18 and opposite back side 20. The panel member 12 is for positioning between the plurality of pages in a piece of literature. A position indicator 22 is located on the panel member 12 near the top end 14. The position indicator 22 is for indicating to the user where to position the panel member 12 on the page.
FIG. 1A is a top view of one embodiment of the bookmark. In FIG. 1A, the panel member 12 is shown as having a pair of parallel slits 24. The slits 24 are created in the panel member 12 and run the length of the panel member 12. The slits 24 start near the bottom end 16 of the panel member 12 and end near the position indicator 22. The slits 24 pass through the body of the panel member 12. The slits 24 allow for an efficient and economical means of attaching the line indicator body 26 to the panel member 12. The line indicator body 26 includes a plurality of slits 28 forming the shape of the letter ‘H’ rotated 90° relative to the length of the line indicator body 26. The slits 28 pass through the line indicator body 26 from the top side to the bottom side. The slits 28 form a pair of flaps 32 on the body 26. The line indicator body 26 has an outer periphery consisting of ends 29 and pointer 30. The pointer 30 is for indicating or marking the line where the user was previously reading within the piece of literature. The line indicator body 26 is connected to a strip 25 of the panel member 12 between the parallel slits 24 on the panel member 12. This is done by opening the pair of flaps 32 and wrapping them around the back side between the pair of slits 24 on the panel member 12, as best illustrated by FIG. 1C. Thus, the flaps 32 provide a sturdy, economical and efficient means of attaching the line indicator body 26 to the panel member 12. FIG. 1E illustrates in greater detail and is a cross sectional view of one embodiment of the bookmark taken along lines 1E-1E in FIG. 1D. In FIG. 1E, the pair of flaps 32 are shown extending from the top side 18 of the panel member 12 through the pair of parallel slits 24 and on the bottom side 20 of the panel member 12 beneath the strip 25. Thus, flaps 32 clasp the back side 20 of the strip 25 to keep the line indicator body 26 slidably attached to the panel member 12 for marking the line where the user was previously reading in the literature. The line indicator body 26 is polygon in shape and has a pointed region 30 for pointing to the exact line where the user was previously reading in the literature. The line indicator body 26 is purposely designed to have a width extending between the two ends 29 on the body 26 less than the width of the panel member 12 so that the line indicator body 26 is contained within the outer periphery of the panel member 12. By use of the flaps 32 and in keeping the line indicator body 26 within the outer periphery of the panel member 12 prevents unwanted shifting or translation of the line indicator body 26 with respect to the panel member 12. Although the panel member 12 may shift or move from its original place positioned between the pages of the literature, the line indicator body 26 will remain in the same spot with respect to the panel member 12. Thus, the user realigns the panel member 12 with the page using the position indicator 22 to mark the exact line where the user was previously reading.
FIG. 2A is a top view of another embodiment of the bookmark. In FIG. 2A, the panel member 12 contains the same features as the panel member 12 illustrated in FIG. 1A. In FIG. 2B an additional embodiment of the line indicator body 34 is shown. The line indicator body 34 has ends 38 and pointer 39. The line indicator body 34 also has a top and bottom parallel sides between ends 38. A pair of flaps 32 are formed with the line indicator body 34 as a means of attaching the line indicator body 34 to the strip 25. How the line indicator body 34 is attached to the panel member 12 is best illustrated in FIG. 2E. In FIG. 2E, the line indicator body 34 is shown having a pair of flaps 32. The line indicator body 34 is folded so that the pair of flaps 32 extend through the pair of slits 34 and along the bottom side 20 of the strip 25. The flaps 32 secure the line indicator body 34 to the panel member 12. The line indicator body 34 may be slid along the strip 25 for marking the line where the user was previously reading within the literature. The line indicator body 34 and pair of flaps 32 provide an economical, efficient and yet sturdy means of attaching the line indicator body 34 to the strip 25 of panel member 12. The line indicator body 34 is polygonal in shape and has ends 38 forming a pointer 39 for indicating to the user the exact line where the user was previously reading. The line indicator body 34 has a width between ends 38 less than the width of the panel member 12 such that the line indicator body 34 is contained with the outer periphery of the panel member 12. Limiting the surface area of the line indicator body 34 prevents unwanted shifting or translation of the line indicator body 34 with respect to the panel member 12. Thus, when a user resumes reading from the literature, though the panel member 12 may have shifted with respect to the page, the line indicator body 34 has not shifted. The user is then able to reposition the panel member 12 on the page using the position indicator 22 to indicate to the user where the user was previously reading on the page.
FIG. 3A is a top view of another embodiment of the bookmark. In FIG. 3A, a panel member 12 consists of a top end 14, a bottom end 16, a front side 18 and an opposite back side 20. The panel member 12 also has a position indicator 22 located near the top end 14 of the panel member 12. The position indicator 22 for use in realigning the panel member 12 with the page of the literature. Positioned on the panel member 12 are a pair of parallel slits 42. The slits 42 pass through the panel member 12 from the top side 18 to the bottom side 20. A first slit 42 is positioned near a bottom end 16 of the panel member 12. A second slit 42 is positioned near the position indicator 22. A ribbon 40 is secured between the pair of parallel slits 42. The ends of the ribbon 41 are threaded through the pair of parallel slits 42 on the panel member 12 and secured at attaching points 52 on the back side 20 of the panel member 12, as best illustrated in FIG. 3C. The line indicator body 44, as shown in FIG. 3B, is polygonal in shape. The line indicator body 44 has a top side and bottom side and ends 48 defining the width of the indicator body 44. The indicator body 44 also has an arrow shape 50 on the end 48 for indicating to the user where the user was previously reading in the literature. On the line indicator body 44 is a pair of parallel slits 46. The slits 46 pass through the line indicator body 44 from the top to the bottom side. The parallel slits 46 allow the ribbon 40 to be threaded through the slits 46 on the indicator body 44. This is done by inserting the ribbon end 41 into the slit 46 on the bottom side of the indicator body 44 over the top of the line indicator body 44 between the pair of parallel slits 46 and back through the slit 46 and along the underside of the indicator body 44. The ribbon 40 is then connected to the panel member 12 at attaching points 52 on the back side 20 of the panel member 12, as shown in FIG. 3E. The width of the line indicator body 44 extending between ends 48 is less than the width of the panel member 12 so that the line indicator body 44 is contained within the outer periphery of the panel member 12. The line indicator body 44 is slid along the ribbon 40 between the pair of parallel slits 42 on the panel member 12. Thus, the user is able to slide the line indicator body 44 along the ribbon 40 to mark the line where the user was previously reading. The ribbon 40 provides a secure and rigid means of affixing the line indicator body 44 to the panel member 12 so that the line indicator body 44 resists unwanted translation or movement along the ribbon 40. Though the panel member 12 may shift or move with respect to page, the line indicator body 44 retains its position with respect to the panel member 12 for marking the line where the user was previously reading.
FIG. 4A is a top view of another embodiment of the bookmark. In FIG. 4A, the panel member 12 has a single slit 54 running perpendicular to the top end 14 and the opposite bottom end 16 of the panel member 12. The slit 54 starts near the bottom end 16 and ends near the position indicator 22 near the top 14 of the panel member 12. Line indicator bodies 56 and 68 are shown in FIG. 4A. Indicator bodies 56, 68 are illustrative of the fact that numerous shapes and designs could be employed when fabricating the line indicator body. For example, the user may prefer the decorative design of the line indicator body 68 being a smiley face as illustrate in FIG. 4A. Or, the user may prefer the decorative design of a star as the indicator body 56 also shown in FIG. 4A. Whatever the design preferred by the user, only one line indicator body on the panel member would be necessary for marking the line or indicating to the user where the user was previously reading. Generally indicia located on the front 18 and/or back 20 of the panel member 12 could match the decorative design used to fabricate the line indicator body. Whether using line indicator body 56 or 68, attachment 66 secures the body to the panel member 12. The attachment 66 includes a plurality of folds 63 forming a pair of flaps 62. The line indicator body 56, 68 are attached to the panel member 12 by inserting ends 60 through slit 54 such that flaps 62 grasp both the front side 18 and the back side 20 of the panel member 12 thereby allowing the line indicator body 56 to be slid along the slit 54 for marking the line where the user was previously reading. The attachment 66, as best shown in FIG. 4E, is a strong, economical and sturdy means of attaching the line indicator body to the panel member 12. In keeping with the design of the other embodiments, the line indicator body 56, 68 and attachment 66 have a width less than the width of the panel member 12 so that the line indicator body 56, 68 are contained within the outer periphery of the panel member 12. As previously noted, keeping the width of the line indicator body within the width of the panel member 12 prevents the line indicator body from being shifted unintentionally or by mishap along the slit 54. In addition, position indicator 22 allows the user to reposition the panel member 12 on the page so that the line indicator body 56 or 68 indicates to the user where the user was previously reading.
The present invention contemplates numerous other options and design and use of the improved bookmark. It is to be understood, for example, that the line indicator bodies need not exhibit any particular shape or have a pointer contained thereon. It is also to be understood that the line indicator body may be manufactured separately from the attachment means used to secure or affix the line indicator body to the panel member. Also, the present invention contemplates variations in the type of indicia used on the panel member for presenting a theme in the decorative design and tying the design of the line indicator body to the panel member. Although it is preferred that the line indicator body have a decorative design and the panel member also exhibit decorative designs along with similar indicia, the panel member and the line indicator body need not. Also, the present invention contemplates indicia and decorative designs positioned on the panel member and line indicator body corresponding to the piece of literature.
These and other options, variations, are all within the spirit and scope of the invention.
Patent Application
20070266926
