Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02512522 2005-07-20
TITLE: BOOKMARK
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to bookmarks.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Bookmarks have been used for generations to permit a reader to keep track of
which page
or pages the reader last read in a book before closing the book.
Traditionally, bookmarks
consisted of a long ribbon or long semi-rigid member which was placed between
the pages of the
book. The reader could quickly find the page he or she last read by opening
the book to where
the bookmark was inserted. Generally, to ensure that the bookmark was securely
contained in the
book, the bookmark was inserted as close to the spine of the book as possible.
While traditional bookmarks were suitable for marking a reader's progress
through a
book, traditional bookmarks do have certain disadvantages. Firstly, to ensured
that the
bookmark was securely retained in the book near the spine, the bookmark had to
be very thin and
flat in order to permit the book to be closed. If the reader attempted to use
a thicker object as a
bookmark, such as a pencil, this would result in the book being damaged.
Thicker objects
inserted very close to the spine of the book will cause damage to the books
spine when the book
is closed. However, inserting a thick bookmark into the book such that the
mark was far away
from the spine usually resulted in the bookmark falling out of the book.
Therefore, the
decorative nature of the bookmark was necessarily limited to flat elongated
members or ribbons.
Furthermore, while the bookmark could indicate which portion of the book the
reader last
CA 02512522 2005-07-20
finished reading, the mark was generally not suitable for indicating the exact
portion of the page
the reader last finished. As a result, people using traditional bookmarks very
often have to re-
read at least several lines or paragraphs. An improved bookmark which can be
securely retained
in the book without causing damage to the spine of the book and which can also
indicate the
exact location where the reader last read is therefore desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an improved
bookmark for marking a
location on the pages of a book. The bookmark consists of an elongated
flexible elastic loop
which is dimensioned to fit snugly around the pages of the book. A marker is
mounted to the
elastic loop. The marker has a pointer for marking the location on the page
where the reader last
read.
With the foregoing in view, and other advantages as will become apparent to
those skilled
in the art to which this invention relates as this specification proceeds, the
invention is herein
1 S described by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof,
which includes a
description of the preferred typical embodiment of the principles of the
present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1. is a front view of a book mark made in accordance with the present
invention.
FIGURE 2. is a front view of the book mark shown in figure 1 mounted on a
book.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in
the different
figures.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring firstly to figure l, the present invention is a book marker, shown
generally as
item 10, includes an elastic loop 12 having marker 14 mounted thereon. Marker
14 includes
pointer 18 having point 16 and central portion 20. Central portion 20 has an
aperture, not shown,
dimensioned and configured such that elastic loop 12 passes snugly through
central portion 20 to
permit the marker to move along loop 12. Loop 12 may be made of rubber or
elastic cord which
can easily be stretch. The cord forming loop 12 must be sufficiently resilient
to permit the loop
to return to its original length upon being released. Cord 12 may comprise an
elastic cord have a
decorative fabric cover over a rubber core. Suitable elastic cords are readily
available in the
marketplace. Marker portion 14 is preferably made of plastic, but could be
made of any material
such as wood or metal. Marker 14 is made as flat as possible. Preferably,
marker 14 is made
from a single sheet of flat plastic having a pair of apertures 27 and 28
located at central portion
through which loop 12 is strung.
As best seen in figure 2, marker 10 is used by a reader to mark the position,
namely the
15 line of text, the reader last read. The user holds book 21 at page 22,
namely the page the reader
last read. The user then loops loop 12 around page 22 and cover 24 of book 21
such that marker
14 is positioned to fit between the pages of the book. Elastic loop 12 is
dimensioned to ensure
that the loop stretches snugly over page 22 of book 21 to secure the marker in
position. When
the loop is firmly secured to the book, marker 14 may then be moved up or down
along page 22
20 such that the pointer is positioned at location 26 corresponding to the
last read line of text on
page 22. The book may then be closed onto the marker. When next the book is
opened, the
position of marker 14 will indicate where the reader last left off when
reading the book.
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A specific embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed; however,
several
variations of the disclosed embodiment could be envisioned as within the scope
of this invention.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the
embodiments described
above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the
following claims.
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