Books – strips – and leaves – Book – element thereof – or accessory therefor – Leaves
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-12
2001-12-11
Fridie, Jr., Willmon (Department: 3722)
Books, strips, and leaves
Book, element thereof, or accessory therefor
Leaves
C283S038000, C283S042000, C283S036000, C281S041000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06328338
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally related to page markers, and more specifically, to a page marker formed from a page of a book, magazine, newspaper, trade journal, catalog, telephone book and other like publications.
2. Discussion of the Background
While reading a publication, it is not uncommon for the reader to desire to mark one or more of the pages for future reference. For example, a person reading a magazine generally desires to easily recall the page where he or she last stopped reading. Additionally, for a publication that has an index, table of contents, or other page that is frequently accessed, a reader generally desires to mark those pages for easy reference so that the reader need not spend time flipping through the publication to find those pages.
A common practice for marking a page of interest for future reference is to place a small piece of paper on top of the page in such a way that when the publication is closed a portion of the small piece of paper projects beyond an edge of the page. Another commonly used technique for marking a page is to fold over a corner of the page. Both of these techniques have drawbacks. The small piece of paper may not be readily available at the particular time when it is needed, or it could easily fall out of the publication. Folded over corners suffer the disadvantage of being inconspicuous after the publication has been closed. Thus, they are often difficult to locate.
Solutions to overcome these problems have been attempted. For example, attempts have been made to provide page markers that could be formed from the page by the reader. U.S. Pat. No. 4,184,699 to Lowe, Jr. describes such a page marker. However, the drawbacks of these page markers is they are rather complicated and difficult to form.
What is, therefore, desired, is a page marking system and method that overcomes these and other disadvantages associated with conventional page marking devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Generally, the present invention provides a page marking system and method for marking pages of a publication. The present invention overcomes many of the drawbacks associated with conventional page markers, and further offers publishers of books, magazines, newspapers, trade journals, catalogs, telephone books and other like publications a new advertising opportunity.
In one aspect, the present invention provides a publication having a separation line indicated on at least one of the pages of the publication. The separation line has a first endpoint and a second endpoint. The first endpoint is located on or adjacent to a first edge of the page and a distance away from a second edge of the page; the first edge forms an angle with the second edge. The second endpoint is located a distance away from the first edge and a distance away from the second edge. The distance from the first endpoint to the second edge is greater than the distance from the second endpoint to the second edge. A page marker integral with the page is formed from the page when the page is separated along the separation line. When the page marker is folded towards the second edge of the page, a portion of the page marker extends beyond the second edge. The page marker thus functions as a bookmark.
Advantageously, the separation line is indicated on the page by perforating or weakening the page along at least a portion of the separation line. This feature facilitates the formation of the page marker. Also, an advertisement, uniform resource locator (URL), or other like item is printed on either side of the portion of the page from which the page marker is formed. This provides publishers new and unique advertising opportunities not heretofore contemplated. Additionally, a fold line can be indicated on the page to assist the reader in folding the page marker so that a portion of the page marker will extend beyond the second edge of the page.
The separation line can have various shapes. For example, the separation line can be a straight line or a curved line. The separation line can also have a first segment and a second segment. The segments can be straight or curved.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of marking a page of a publication. The method includes the step of separating the page along a separation line indicated thereon. The separation line has a first endpoint and a second endpoint. The first endpoint is located on or adjacent to a first edge of the page and is located a distance away from a second edge of the page; the first edge of the page forms an angle with the second edge of the page. The second endpoint is located a distance away from the first edge and a distance away from the second edge. A page marker integral with the page is formed as a result of the above step. The method also includes the step of folding the page marker along a fold line so that a portion of the page marker extends beyond the second edge of the page. In this manner, the page marker functions as a bookmark.
In one embodiment, the page is perforated along at least a portion of the separation line to facilitate the formation of the page marker. In another embodiment the page is weakened along at least a portion of the separation line for the same reason.
The method can further include the step of completely detaching the page marker from the page. The page marker may have a coupon printed thereon, and after being completely detached from the page, can be exchanged for a discount on merchandise. Advantageously, the page marker may have a URL printed thereon, and a reader of the publication can fully detach the page marker from the page, keep the page marker near his or her computer, and enter the URL into a web browser to retrieve the resource associated with the URL. In one embodiment, the page marker is a collectable item, such as a game piece.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of manufacturing a publication having a number of pages. The method includes the steps of indicating a separation line on at least one side of at least one of the pages and binding the pages together. The separation line has a first endpoint and a second endpoint. The first endpoint is located on or adjacent to a first edge of the page and a distance away from a second edge of the page; the first edge forms an angle with the second edge. The second endpoint is located a distance away from the first edge and a distance away from the second edge. The distance from the first endpoint to the second edge is greater than the distance from the second endpoint to the second edge. A page marker integral with the page is formed when the page is separated along the separation line. When the page marker is folded towards the second edge of the page, a portion of the page marker extends beyond the second edge. The page marker thus functions as a bookmark. Advantageously, the separation line is indicated by perforating the page or by weakening the page.
In another aspect, the present invention provides an advertising display space on which a plurality of symbols are printed. The display space is a portion of a page of a publication that lies between a first edge of the page and a separation line indicated on the page. The separation line has a first endpoint and a second endpoint. The first endpoint is located on or adjacent to the first edge of the page and a distance away from a second edge of the page; the second edge of the page forms an angle with the first edge. The second endpoint is located a distance away from the first edge and a distance away from the second edge. The distance from the first endpoint to the second edge is greater than the distance from the second endpoint to the second edge, and the distance from the second endpoint to the first edge is preferably less than about two inches. Advantageously, the display space becomes a page marker when the page is separated along the separation line.
In another aspect, the invention provides an advertising method. The advertising method comprises the steps of creating an a
Birch Richard J.
Rosenbloom Brian S.
Sherman Lawrence M.
Fridie Jr. Willmon
Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo PC
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