GB2446449A - A bookmaker with line indicator - Google Patents

Abstract

A book marker <B>1</B> comprises an attachment portion which is attached to a page or pages of a book, and a slidably attached cord <B>4</B> with line indicators <B>6, 7</B> attached. The attachment portion may comprise front <B>2</B> and rear parts <B>3</B>, the cord <B>4</B> passing through holes <B>5</B> in the parts. The cord <B>4</B> can be pulled back and forth through the holes <B>5</B>, thereby moving the line indicators <B>6, 7</B> up and down the page. The front <B>2</B> and rear <B>3</B> parts are adapted to exert pressure on and to trap one or more pages between them.

Description

Bookmarker This invention is a development of the conventional

bookmark.

Readers throughout time have been and still are frustrated when they pick up their books and magaijne and can't remember the page they finished reading on. So the most conunon boolcmark we see today was born. This normally takes the shape of a rectangular piece of card, loather, or plastic. When a person ends their reading session this bookmark is placed on the page they wish to return to and the book is then closed. This method works well until the book fills open the bookmark falls out and the page is lost. Using this type of bookmark a reader sometimes has to read up to two pages of text before they can actually find the precise point they last finished reading on.

To overcome these problems, the present invention once inserted into the book remains there even if the pages fall open. It performs this task by trapping one or more pages between its front and rear parts. The front part (which shall be called the frontispiece) can lake any shape, have a range of surfaces or be printed according to whatever design is required. The rear part (which shall be called the backer) is a slender length of durable, flexible plastic that is slightly longer than the frontispiece and half its width. The top quarter of the backer is glued to the rear of the frontispiece with the remaining three quarters left unglued. If the backer is glued on as just a straight length of plastic the gap formed between itself and the frontispiece is too narrow and the pressure isn't sufficient enough to hold it in place.

So in order to create a wider gap that would accommodate more pages the backer has been bent haifa centimetre away from the frontispiece (at the point directly below the glued section) so that a flat shelf is formed. Then to cure the lack of pressure the backer has been bent back in toward the frontispiece again so that its inner surface protrudes below and beyond the frontispiece, which in effect closes the gap at the bottom completely. A result of this means the two halves must be slightly separated before the bookmark can be inserted into a book but the resistance formed by the angle of the backer and the flex in the plastic ensures they come firmly back together again trapping the pages between the bookmark and the bookmark in the book. The backer is designed to be longer than the frontispiece so it can be slid easily between the pages of a book without causing damage to the paper. The line or word the reader wishes to return to is marked with one of two decorative line/word indicators, which are attached one either end to a length of fine yet durable cord, embroidery yarn or other suitable material. The cord is sandwiched between two halves of the line/word indicators the front half of which co-ordinates with the general theme of the frontispiece and the back portion would be a mirror image of the front or some other shape which could bear a company logo. But before the line/word indicators are attached the cord passes through a strategically placed hole in the frontispiece (strategic in a design and decorative sense) and re-appears through a hole in the bend at the top of the backer. To mark the exact spot readers wish to return to they simply insert the bookmark above the desired area and pull down on the appropriate line/word indicator until it rests upon the chosen word (Another benefit to readers is the fact that in certain circUmstances they would be able to mark up to four pages at one time, or whole sections of a book.) If one needs to mark a line or word that would be hidden beneath the frontispiece when inserted normally one merely has to flip the marker over and insert it between any pages behind the one they wish to mark. Then simply pull the bottom line/word indicator downwards until the top line/word indicator rests upon the chosen word. Once this action is complete hang the bottom line/word indicator upon the same page to avoid any confusion Another option for creating even more grip would be the addition -at the moukling stage -of a small wedge shaped insert at the bottom of the backer on the inside surface.

The device is very easy to use in a fun and unscientific way.

The invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows the face side of the bookmark with line/word indicators as it appears before it is inserted into a book.

Figure 2 shows the reverse side of the bookmark with line/word indicators before it is inserted into a book.

Figure 3 shows a side view of the bookmark with line/word indicators before it is inserted into a book.

Figure 4 shows an aerial view of the bookmark with line/word indicators before it is inserted into a book.

Figure 5 Shows the front of the bookmark demonstrating the effect of the bottom line/word indicator resting upon the centre of the frontispiece.

Figure 6 Shows the backer before it is glued to the frontispiece with an alternative wedge shaped base.

In figure 1, a bookmark I includes a flower shaped frontispiece number 2 and a backer 3 which is shaped in such a way that when glued to the back of the frontispiece a tight gap is formed between the two that accommodates and firmly grips one or a nwnber of pages of a book or magazine. A length of cord 4 (which can be of indeterminate length) is threaded through a hole 5 in the front centre of the frontispiece 2 (the positioning of the hole can vary according to design requirements) and re-appears through a hole in the top of the backer 3. Glued to the ends of the cord 4 are two line/word indicators 6,7. The top line/word indicator 6 is demonstrated here in the shape of a butterfly and the bottom line/word indicator 7 in the shape of a bee and together with the floral frontispiece 2 they form a design that is based on nature. However the scope for alternative design combinations is practically limitless. These line/word indicators 6,7 can be pulled up or down until they rest upon a chosen line or word the reader wishes to return to.

Figure 2 shows the rear of the bookmark I and demonstrates two methods in which the line/word indicators 6,7 could be could be glued to the cord. The first method has the cord 4 sandwiched and glued directly between the top (butterfly) line/word indicator 6 and a disc shaped back-piece 8. The second method has the cord 4 passing through a hole 10 in the rear centre of another disc shaped back-piece 9 before being sandwiched between and glued to the bottom (bee) line/word indicator 7. A disc shape is here used to represent the back-pieces 8,9 but any shape would suffice even mirror images of the of the butterfly and bee line/word indicators 6,7. The frontispiece 2 and the line/word indicators 6,7 could be made of any number of materials with preference probably given to cardboards and plastics. The reason the cord 4 passes through the rear of the back-piece 9 is to enable the (bee) line/word indicator 7 (to which it is glued) to settle flatly upon the (flower) frontispiece 2 when the (butterfly) line/word indicator is pulled to its maximum height. Figure 2 also shows a vertical portion 11 of the backer 4 which is glued to the rear of the frontispiece 2 leaving the remaining unglued section to form a gap which accommodates pages. The vertical portion 11 could take any shape according to the chosen theme/design but its surface area should always be large enough to maintain a good and lasting adherence.

Figure 3 shows a side view of the bookmark 1 where we can clearly see the cord 4 passing through the holeS in the centre of the frontispiece 2 then passing through another hole 12 (which is best demonstrated in Fig 4) in the centre of the horizontal portion 13 of the backer 4. We can also note how the backer 4 is bent back in toward and slightly beyond the frontispiece 2 to achieve maximum pressure upon the pages.

The base of the backer 4 can be chamfered or tapered to achieve easier access between the pages. The disc shaped back-pieces we see 8,9 are glued to the butterfly and bee line/word indicators using method 2 as described in Figure 2 whereby the cord 4 is sandwiched directly between the disc shaped back-pieces 9, 10.

Figure 4 shows an aerial view of the upper portion of the bookmark I clearly displaying the hole 12 in the centre of the top end of the horizontal portion 13 of the backer3 through which the cord 4 passes. The butterfly and bee line/word indicators 6,7 are laid flat for visual purposes.

Figure 6 Demonstrates the resting position of the bottom bee line/word indicator 7 when the top butterfly line/word indicator 6 is pulled to its fullest height.

Figure 7 Shows a biker 4 with alternative wedge shape at its base which could provide even more grip upon the pages.

Claims (5)

1. Claims 1. A bookmarkcr comprising an attachment means for attaching the

   bookmarter to one or more page of a book a pull string mechanism, which is_threaded through a portion of the attachment means such that it can be moved freely backwards and foiwards through said portion, and line indicator! place marker means attached to at least one end of the pull string.
2. 2. A bookmarker according to claim 1, in which the attachment means comprises a rear section and a front section that are adapted to exert pressure on and to trap one or more pages between them.
3. 3. A bookmarker according to claim 2 in which the pull string is threaded through and can move freely through both the front section and the rear section of the attachment means.
4. 4. A bookmarker according to any of claims I to 3, in which the pull string is made from a flexible material.
5. 5. A bookmarker substantially as described herein with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.