BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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:
FIG. 1 is a front view of the bookmark, the between-page portion has a clear pocket attached thereto and the line defining axis is also present, the spine-adjacent portion is in a triangle-spiral shape.
FIG. 2 is a front view of another embodiment of the bookmark with the spine-adjacent portion containing a variety of items.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the bookmark with the between-page portion of the bookmark between the pages of a book and the spine-adjacent portion extending along the book spine.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the bookmark holding a pencil and notepad.
FIG. 5 is top view of the bookmark of FIG. 3 positioned between the pages of a book.
FIG. 6 is a front view of another embodiment of the bookmark with a ribbon positioned between the pages of a book.
FIG. 7 is side view of yet another embodiment of the bookmark.
FIG. 8 is a front view of the spine-adjacent and top portions of another embodiment of the invention in the helical configuration.
FIG. 9 is a front view of another embodiment of the bookmark with the spine-adjacent portion containing a variety of items.
FIG. 10 is a front view of the bookmark of FIG. 8 with the spine-adjacent portion in the helical configuration.
FIG. 11 is a front view of the bookmark in another embodiment with the spine-adjacent portion containing a variety of items.
FIG. 12 is a front view of another embodiment illustrating the pencil topper, the spiral portion contains items and is holding an elongate writing implement.
FIG. 13 is a side view of the pencil topper of FIG. 12, the spiral portion contains items and is holding an elongate writing implement.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIGS. 1-11 illustrate a bookmark 10 that serves to hold a page 20 in a book 16 and also to hold various items 28. As shown in FIGS. 1-11, the bookmark 10 is comprised of a wire-like elongate member 24 that is made of metal. The wire-like elongate member 24 can be made from a single wire or multiple wires connected together.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, 4, 6-7 and 9-11, the wire-like elongate member 24 forms a between-page portion 12, a top portion 22 and a spine-adjacent portion 14. The between-page portion 12 is a uniplanar bending of the wire-like elongate member 24 with different subportions 30 thereof which extend in different directions and include at least one subportion 30 which extends along a line defining axis 32 that is transverse to the spine-adjacent portion 14 as shown in FIG. 1. The between-page portion 12 is substantially flat so that it can be easily placed between the pages 20 of a book 16 as seen in FIGS. 1-2, 4, 6-7 and 9-11. The between-page portion can be formed into various shapes as shown in FIGS. 1-2, 6 and 9-11.
As shown in FIGS. 1-2, 4, 6 and 9-11 the top portion 22 connects the between-page portion 12 and the spine-adjacent portion 14. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the top portion 22 is adapted so that it can be positioned over the top edge 26 of a spine 18 of a book 16.
As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 6, the spine-adjacent portion 14 is oriented with respect to the between-page portion 12 such that the spine-adjacent portion 14 extends along the spine 18 of a book 16. As shown in FIGS. 3-5 and 7-11, the spine-adjacent portion 14 is preferably formed in a non-linear shape. The spine-adjacent portion can be formed into a spiral as shown in FIGS. 3-5, 7 and 9, so that an elongate writing, implement 42, such as a pen or pencil, can be inserted into the spine-adjacent portion 14 and held in place until it is needed as shown in FIG. 4.
The spine-adjacent portion 14 can be formed into a double helix as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 10. The spine-adjacent portion 14 can also be formed into various other non-linear shapes as exhibited in FIGS. 1-2, 8 and 10-11. FIG. 6 shows that the spine-adjacent portion 14 can also be linear.
As shown in FIGS. 2-4 and 7-11, the between-page portion 12, top portion 22 and/or spine-adjacent portion 14 can have a single item 28 or multiple items 28 attached to them, the items can be stationary or moveable. Items 28 attached to the spine-adjacent portion 14 can be stationary or moveable along the spine-adjacent portion 14 as illustrated in FIGS. 2-4 and 7-11.
As shown in FIG. 3, the item 28 can be a bead 46. As shown in FIG. 6, the item 28 can be a flexible elongate member such as a ribbon 74. FIGS. 2 and 9 illustrate that the items 28 which can be attached to the bet%veen-page portion 12, top portion 22 and/or spine-adjacent portion 14 also include a clip 66, a light 58, a bell 56, a coin 70, a button 64, a photo holder 88, a time keeper 78, a line indicator 80, an identification tag 82, a chain 62, a magnet 50, a ring 60, a gem 48, a wheel 52, a gear 54, a stone 68 and a charm 44. FIG. 4 illustrates that a notepad 76 can be attached to the between-page portion 12. FIG. 1 shows that a clear pocket 72 can be attached to the between-page portion 12. Tile clear pocket 72 can consist of more than one pocket page in various sizes and shapes and it is adapted to hold a multitude of items.
FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate a pencil topper 40 which has a wire-like elongate member 24 that forms a spiral portion 41 and an end portion 43. As illustrated in FIG. 12, a line defining axis 32 of the spiral portion 41 is in the same plane as the end portion 43. The end portion 43 consists of a uniplanar bending of the wire-like elongate member 24 with different subportions 30 extending in different directions as shown in FIG. 12.
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 FIGS. 12 and 13. As seen in FIGS. 12 and 13, one item 28 or various items 28 can be attached to the spiral portion 41. The items 28 are threaded onto the spiral portion 41 and are moveable along or stationary the spiral portion 41.
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.
Patent Application
20070256624
