Signals and indicators – Indicators – Page type
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-18
2002-06-11
Gutierrez, Diego (Department: 2859)
Signals and indicators
Indicators
Page type
C281S042000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06401649
ABSTRACT:
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention most generally relates to a magnetic device that can be used to mark places in books, magazines, newspapers, among other documents, and protrudes from the edge of the document to clearly indicate the placemark's location. More particularly the invention relates to placemarkers that can mark any number of locations in the subject document. Most particularly the invention relates to a placemarker that does not fall out of the document when the document is re-oriented, shaken, or dropped.
2. Description of the Related Art
Presently, inventions exist for placemarkers that protrude from the edge of the document, mark multiple places, mark multiple pages, and can be secured to the book. These inventions solve particular problems such as creating thumb tabs on document edges, accommodating readers who require multiple marks in the same document, and insuring that the bookmark does not fall out of the book.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,249,546 discloses a placemarker that projects away from a side page in the volume so that it may fold over edges of the pages to act as a bookmark and also a thumbtab. This invention's securing means is adhesive, a substance that loses its ability to remain securely fastened with repeated applications.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,022,342 discloses a placemarker that marks multiple locations in a document by including a plurality of strings with two moveable place markers on each string. This invention also provides an anchor means consisting of a spring clamp for securing the bookmark to the spine of the book. This invention requires a document equipped with a spine in order to enable its securing mechanism. In addition, its multiple location markers could slide out of place when the book is re-oriented, dropped, or shaken.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,884 discloses a bookmark with a U-shaped attachment member that bends snugly over book spine and binding. The marking portion is connected to the attachment portion by a bendable thread section. This bookmark requires a book with a spine and binding, and thus can't accommodate other types of documents.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,351 discloses a bookmark that consists of a molded plastic base that is clamped to the book. Again, this invention is not generally applicable to all types of documents.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,081 discloses a bookmark fitted with anchors that hold its corded markers from being pulled out of the book. This bookmark is adjustable to fit the length of a book, i.e. it could not be used to mark, for example, newspapers because its anchors must protrude from the opposite end of the document from which the folded cord top is positioned.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,688,510 discloses a place marker that clips onto a page via a spring. It consists of three separate “leaves” that are used in slidable conjunction with one another. This rather complicated device would not serve the purpose of a simple device to mark where one has left off reading a book.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,758 discloses a clip-type bookmark that consists of a ribbon connected to a clip that is used to mark a place in a document. This bookmark serves a similar purpose to the instant invention, but is not so reliable a marker when too many pages are caught up in the clip, as this situation would render the clip useless for maintaining its position during handling of the book.
In general, the devices that are designed to catch up several pages are complicated or limited. Devices that are designed to remain securely attached to the document are fairly complicated, involving moving and inter-operating parts, and are physically cumbersome. And devices that serve to mark multiple pages in a document are restricted to certain document sizes and shapes. These devices are neither geared towards simplicity, in the case of solving the fixed attachment problem, nor flexibility, in the case of solving the multiple page fixed attach problem.
The patents noted herein provide considerable information regarding the developments that have taken place in the field of placemarkers. Clearly the instant invention provides many advantages over the prior art inventions noted above. Again it is noted that none of the prior art meets the objects of providing:
simplicity in construction and operation,
multiple page marking; and
secure fastening.
None of the inventions of the prior art are as effective and as efficient as the instant invention in ensuring that the bookmark, no matter which embodiment, remains in the book even when the book is shaken, tossed, or dropped.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A placemarker that stays in place through magnetic force is disclosed. In the first embodiment, the placemarker folds over or surrounds the desired page or pages, and the opposing but connected fold flaps attract one another through magnets that are affixed onto the flaps. In the second embodiment, the placemarker comprises a plurality of substrates, all connected at their proximal ends, each, except the substrates which surround the plurality of substrates, affixed with a magnet on each side of each substrate at the distal ends of the substrates. The outer substrates, which surround the plurality of substrates, are affixed only on their inward-facing substrate surface distal ends with magnets. In either embodiment, the flaps or substrates become securely fastened to each other around the pages of the document, and the placemarker does not fall out of the document.
In the first embodiment, a placemarker removably attachable to at least one page of a document is disclosed. The placemarker comprises a substrate having edges defining thereby a predetermined and selected geometry whereby the selected geometry has an averaged width dimension and an averaged length dimension. The substrate is formed of a material which has an outward-facing surface on which indicia may be configured and an inward-facing surface separated from the outward-facing surface by an averaged thickness dimension. In addition, the placemarker comprises a means for causing foldability of the substrate located such that when the substrate is folded, a substrate first portion and a substrate second portion are created thereby, each said substrate first portion and substrate second portion having a surface area determined by the averaged width dimension and the averaged length dimension and the location of the means for causing foldability. The placemarker further comprises a first magnet segment securely affixed to an inward-facing surface of the substrate first portion. Finally, in the invention of the first embodiment, the placemarker comprises a second magnet segment securely affixed to an inward-facing surface of the substrate second portion. Each first magnet segment and second magnet segment are oriented to be mutually attracted when the substrate is folded so that the inward-facing surfaces of the substrate are proximate each to the other.
In the first embodiment, the placemarker can also comprise, but doesn't have to, an item attached to the outward-facing surface of at least one of substrate first portion and substrate second portion. Further, the material of the placemarker can be, but doesn't have to be, selected from the group consisting of cloth, paper, paperboard, plastic, metals, metal alloys, and wood. The item of the placemarker of the first embodiment can be, but doesn't have to be, at least one selected from the group consisting of buttons, sprinkles, charms, and photos. The predetermined and selected geometry defined by the edges of the placemarker of the first embodiment can be, doesn't have to be, selected from at least one of the group consisting of polygonal, arcuate, irregular, symbols, animals, characters and plants.
The placemarker of the first embodiment in which the placemarker consists of a substrate having predetermined geometric shape and predetermined area dimension, in which the substrate is formed of a material which has an outward-
Dishong George W.
Gutierrez Diego
Smith R. Alexander
LandOfFree
Magnetic bookmark does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Magnetic bookmark, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Magnetic bookmark will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2910057