Page marking device

An page marking device is disclosed. The marking device is part of a book. The book has a tab assembly carrier. The carrier has a plurality of removable tabs disposed on the carrier. Printed indicia is located on the tabs. The tabs are secured to the carrier by a non-aggressive adhesive allowing the tabs to be removed from the carrier relocated and/or removed again as required by the user of the device. Printed indicia may also be located on or beneath said carrier.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to place marking devices for catalogs or the like and a book such as a catalog incorporating the same.

BACKGROUND

The use of a mechanical member for marking a place in an item of written material, such as a book, is probably as old as writing itself. Such devices include bookmarks, index tabs, and in more traditional items of printed matter, such as bibles, ribbons bound into the spine of the book.

Perhaps the most common example of such a device is a common bookmark, which generally consists of a strip of light cardboard, typically about three centimeters in width and ten centimeters long. It is common for such bookmarks to have a wide range of different types of printed matter on them.

Such printed matter may simply comprise decorative designs or an inspirational saying. Such bookmarks are used by simply being placed between the pages of the book, typically near the spine of the book, to mark a particular page in the book to which a reader wishes to return, or which contains some item of information to which the reader expects to want to refer back.

Bookmarks probably came into use as quickly as some book reader with a scrap of paper, discovered, undoubtedly ages ago, that he could mark his place with it. It would appear that the use of a ribbon secured to the binding at the spine of a book was also a very early innovation, which prevented the ribbon bookmark from being dissociated from the book and lost.

More recently, relatively stiff materials have been used for bookmarks, such as plastic. Accordingly, some bookmarks have a tongue cut into them, allowing the tongue to be placed on one side of a page and the rest of the bookmark on the other side of the same page, in much the manner of a paper clip, allowing the bookmark to remain secured to the page even when the book is opened and the page moved. This also allows placement of the bookmark in a secure fashion at a wide variety of positions remote from the spine or binding of the book.

As can be seen from the above, the structure of bookmarks has remained substantially unchanged for many years. Not surprisingly, when innovation did come, it was slow to be appreciated.

In particular, a few years ago, scientists doing research on adhesive came across an adhesive which, while it was quite stable, was not very aggressive, and thus did not stay in place permanently. It was a failed experiment, and the material was not much unlike other rejected adhesives. Nevertheless, one of the people who was working with that adhesive was involved with a church choir and began to consider the possibility of using the adhesive to hold bookmarks in place to mark hymns which were scheduled to be sung at the church services.

This was tried, successfully, and the idea evolved into a movable adhesive note. These were manufactured and the research team believed it to be a meritorious product for inclusion in the company's line. Nevertheless, their employer, 3M Corporation had decided against putting an effort behind this product. Accordingly, the research and development people involved with the product distributed their samples of the product to the clerical staff in management. After the management staff became accustomed to using the product, the supply was cut off and the clamoring of the former users of the new product eventually lead management to institute an aggressive and remarkably successful marketing program for this new product. Included in the product line at this time is a plastic marking device intended for use as indexes and flags.

In similar fashion, pages carrying adhesive members have also been bound into books and intended for use as flags. Such flags are adhered to the outside edge of a page in a book and are color coded in a number of colors and include blank spaces for the entry of information which the flag is intended to help the user relocate easily. In accordance with such systems, the page carrying the adhesive members may also be removed.

The above systems suffer from a number of inadequacies, however, which the inventive system does address. First, the flags contain no application specific information and thus require users to develop a system to use the flags. In some cases, this may be preferred, but especially in certain consumer related contexts, organization and ready provision of a working system are essential to success. This is believed to be particularly the case with systems meant to facilitate and encourage purchasing of goods by the consumer.

Still yet another failing of some of the prior art is the likelihood that a page of adhesive members will not be used because it is bound into the book. In the case of a catalog, this would decrease the ability of the catalog to function as a product locating tool, as once a product is located, if its position is not securely marked, and the catalog is closed, the position would be lost.

Even in the case where the page of adhesive markers is removable from the catalog, once removed, it can easily be lost, and thus compromise the effectiveness of the system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention, as claimed, is intended to provide a remedy. It solves the problem of how to mark pages in a book such as a catalog easily and effectively.

A page marking device is disclosed. The page marking device comprises a book. The book has a tab assembly carrier. The carrier has a plurality of removable tabs disposed of on the carrier. The tabs are secured to the carrier by a non-aggressive adhesive allowing the tabs to be removed from the carrier relocated and/or removed again as required by the user of the device. The carrier can be placed in the same location as the peel away address label enclosed with the catalog.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Turning toFIG. 1, a book10constructed according to the present invention is illustrated. Book10generally comprises a number of pages 12, 14 and 16. As illustrated more clearly inFIG. 2, page 12, which, for example, may be the front or back cover of book10has disposed thereon a tab assembly18.

Tab assembly18is secured to page 12 by a non-aggressive or so-called temporary adhesive20such as that used in Post-it brand note pads made by 3M Corporation, which allow the tab assembly18to be removed from and replaced on page 12, or another page that the user finds convenient. Such suggestion respecting the placement of tab assembly18may be printed directly on tab assembly18at, for example, position22as illustrated in FIG.1.

Alternatively, depending upon the intended use of book10, or dependent upon what market research might indicate as being preferable, the tab assembly18may be made permanently secured to page12. However, in accordance with the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, it is contemplated that a temporary adhesive20will be used to allow the tab assembly18to be removed, put beside open book10, which may be a catalog, for example, and referred to by the user as he is reading the catalog.

Again referring toFIG. 2, it is noted that the tab assembly comprises a carrier sheet24which may be made of paper or other suitable material such as plastic, composite fiber, composite fiber plastic, or the like. Adhered to carrier24is a plurality of tabs26which include a patch of temporary non-aggressive adhesive28and printed indicia.

As can be seen inFIG. 2, only a portion of the undersurface32of tabs26are covered with adhesive28. Accordingly, a portion of the undersurface34is left free of adhesive, allowing the tab26to be easily removed and also providing for a portion of the tab which will not adhere to dust or surfaces of objects when the tab is in use, extending from the edge of a closed book.

Referring back now toFIG. 1, tabs26may be positioned into a pair of columns21and23on carrier24. Each column comprises a plurality of tabs26.

Tabs26may be positioned so that undersurface34of tabs26aligns with undersurface34of tabs26in columns21and23. Accordingly, the center line35of tab assembly18will comprise the portion of tabs26which is left free of adhesive. This feature will allow for convenient removal of any one of tabs26located on either side of center35, by simple bending parallel to the center line35, to cause the edge of the tabs26to extend from the rest of the assembly18for easy gripping.

Likewise, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, a portion36of the underside38of carrier24is free of temporary adhesive, as illustrated in FIG.1. This allows the carrier and the rest of the tab assembly to be removed and used when the book is open to any page, as discussed above. After such use the tab assembly may be put back into book10by being adhered to any page.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, the printed indicia30falls into two categories. One is a verbal description40of the intended flagging use of the particular tab and the other is a shortened version40of the same information typically in pictographic form, as illustrated in FIG.1.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, if the book10is a catalog, and it includes a tab assembly such as tab assembly18bearing, for example, a set of messages related to the substance of the book, in this case a catalog, it is intended that the user will remove individual tabs from the tab assembly and use them as markers.

To consider in detail the disclosed embodiment, consider a catalog book10which includes numerous products, such as candy, baby's rattles, pens, flowers, ties, and so forth. As the user goes through the book, with, for example, the tab assembly removed and in his view as he is looking at the pages, he would take the “Easter Gift” tab26it adheres it to the edge of a page of the book with the pictograph42sticking outside the confines of the page edges, as illustrated in FIG.3.

Thus, if the book is closed, the tab will still stick out and the position of the “Easter Gift” tab will not be lost. At the same time, the illustration beside the words “Easter Gift” will be visible from the outside and will indicate the substance of the subject matter being marked. Likewise, the same user as he goes through, the book will have the option of putting the “Baby Gift” tab26beside the baby rattle on the page where the baby rattle is displayed, the “Graduation Gift” tab26on the page where the pen is and, for example, the “Valentine Gift” tab26near the flowers offered for sale in the book.

An alternative embodiment is illustrated in FIG.4. Generally, similar parts or parts performing analogous, corresponding or identical functions to those of theFIG. 1embodiment are numbered herein with numbers which differ from those of the earlier embodiment by multiples of one hundred.

Turning toFIG. 4, an alternative embodiment of the present invention may be understood. In accordance with this embodiment of the invention, a catalog110is provided with a tab assembly118on the back cover116of catalog110. The tab assembly118is on the same side of the same piece of paper as an address label142, which may also be designed to be removed and, for example, adhere to an order form, thus insuring that the ordered goods will go to the person who has ordered the same.

Still, yet another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG.5. Here a page of a book210constructed according to the present invention is illustrated. As illustrated more clearly inFIG. 5, page 212, which, for example, may be the front or back cover of book210has disposed thereon a tab assembly218. Tab assembly218is secured to page 212 by a non-aggressive or so-called temporary adhesive220which allow the tab assembly to be removed from and replaced on page 212, or another page that the user finds convenient. Alternatively, depending upon the intended use of book210, or dependant upon what a market research might indicate as being preferable, the tab assembly218may be made permanently secured to page 212. However, in accordance with the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 5, it is contemplated that a temporary adhesive220will be used to allow the tab assembly218to be removed, and put beside book210.

Again referring toFIG. 5, it is noted that the tab assembly comprises a carrier sheet224which may be made of paper or other suitable material such as plastic, composite fiber, composite fiber plastic, or the like. Carrier sheet224is covered with a release agent layer225which may be plastic coating, wax coating or any suitable material which will allow an adhesive material of relatively permanent nature to be adhered and removed therefrom, in accordance with well-known technology. Adhered to carrier224is a plurality of tabs226which include a patch of permanent aggressive adhesive228.

Turning toFIG. 6yet another embodiment of the invention is illustrated. In particular, in the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 6, the invention takes the form of a guide book or other similar traveler's aid which includes a tab assembly318including twenty tabs326each of which is individually die cut to be removable in the manner of the embodiment illustrated in, for example, FIG.1. Die cutting is done along lines360, again as in theFIG. 1embodiment. In this case, however, the tabs include indicia330which consist of advertising matter which include, for example, the names of hotels, or other facilities that may be of interest to travelers.

The book310might also include maps, as illustrated in FIG.7. Any map might then be marked with a tab326for a hotel, as illustrated in FIG.7.

As is illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 7, the binding of a book310constructed in accordance with the invention can take a wide variety of forms, including a plastic spine binder362as is illustrated inFIG. 7, as well as more conventional staple binding or the like as illustrated in FIG.1. It is also noted that because the portions342of tabs326(intended to stick out of book310when it is closed) are all located on the same side of the page, the temporary adhesive328underlying tab326has a different pattern which is most easily seen in FIG.8.

Turning toFIGS. 9 and 10yet another embodiment of the invention is illustrated. In particular, the tab assembly418comprises a carrier sheet424which may be made of paper or other suitable material such as plastic, composite fiber, composite fiber plastic, or the like. Adhered to carrier sheet424is a plurality of tabs426, which each include a patch of temporary non-aggressive adhesive428on the undersurface432of tabs426and printed indicia429on the upper surface437of tabs426.

As can be seen inFIG. 10, only a portion of the undersurface432of tabs426is covered with adhesive428. See also FIG.9.

In this configuration, a portion434of the undersurface432is left free of adhesive, allowing tabs426to be easily removed and also providing for a portion of the tab which will not adhere to dust or surfaces of objects when the tab is in use, extending from the edge of a closed book.

Referring back now toFIG. 9, tabs426may be positioned into a pair of columns421and423on carrier424. Each column comprises a plurality of tabs426. Alternatively, tabs426may be positioned into several columns. In accordance with the invention, several carriers424may also be positioned throughout the catalog.

Tabs426may be positioned so that portion434of tabs426in column421aligns with portion434of tabs426in column423. Accordingly, the center435of carrier424will be defined by portions434of tabs426which are free of adhesive.

This feature allows for convenient removal of any one of tabs426which may be located on either side of center435. A user may simply bend the catalog410or carrier424at center435until portion434of tab426may be grasped between the fingers of a user.

Likewise, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, a portion436of the underside438of carrier424is free of temporary adhesive, as illustrated in FIG.10. This allows the carrier and the rest of the tab assembly to be removed and used when the book is open to any page, as discussed above. After such use the tab assembly may be put back into catalog410by being adhered to any page. In addition, catalog410may have several carriers disposed within catalog410.

In addition to tabs426having printed indicia, carrier sheet424may also be printed with indicia431. If tabs426are made opaque, indicia431is positioned on the surface433of carrier sheet424so that when the user removes tab426, indicia431is revealed.

Surface433is covered with tabs426until the user removes one of the tabs to reveal the hidden message(s)439of indicia431. Hidden message439may be related to the substance of the book, in this case a catalog.

Accordingly, messages439will only be revealed as the user pulls tabs426away from carrier sheet424. Messages439may be randomly placed on carrier424or a message439may be placed under each tab426.

Thus, as a user removes individual tabs426from the tab assembly424and uses them as markers, additional messages are given to the user. Such messages could be related to the tab being pulled, such as, tab426relating to a “Birthday Gift” may reveal a message such as “see page 12 of our catalog”. Accordingly, the printed indicia429of tab426may relate to the message439.

Alternatively, cost incentives, discounts or prizes may be concealed as message439and as illustrated by the dashed lines in FIG.10. Such messages may read as “if you order by May 15, 1996 you will receive free shipping and handling” other messages could be actual gifts, such as a gift certificates and/or prizes.

Variations of message439may include messages such as “better luck next time” or each message may be a prize of some sort.

Alternatively, message439may be spread out over the whole surface433of carrier424. In this embodiment only a portion of the message will be revealed as tabs426are removed.

In yet another variation, message439may be disposed on the undersurface432of tab426or alternatively tab426may be used as a coupon or gift certificate.

Various embodiments of this embodiment may include a carrier518. Carrier518having an actual scratch off lottery ticket being concealed on the surface533. In this embodiment a scratch off substance541illustrated by the dashed lines inFIG. 11may be placed over message539concealed by tab526.

These tickets or prizes may be sponsored by the state in which the catalog is circulated or may be related to a catalog sponsored lottery. Additionally, individual contributors to the catalog may wish to place incentive messages within the catalog.

Turning now toFIGS. 12 and 13yet another embodiment of the invention is illustrated. In particular, the tab assembly618comprises a carrier sheet624which may be made of paper or other suitable material such as plastic, composite fiber, composite fiber plastic, or the like. Adhered to carrier sheet624is a plurality of tabs626.

Tabs626are made of an opaque flexible uncoated material such as paper. Each tab626has a patch of temporary non-aggressive adhesive628disposed on at least a portion of the undersurface632of tabs626.

As can be seen inFIGS. 12 and 13, only a portion640of the undersurface632of tabs626is covered with adhesive628. In this configuration a portion634of tab626is left free of adhesive628.

Portion634allows tabs626to be easily removed and will not adhere to dust or surfaces of objects when the tab is in use, extending from the edge of a closed book. The upper surface637of tab626corresponding to portion634is provided with a colored background ink layer642.

Colored background ink layer642is of a bright shade (such as yellow) so as to attract the eyes of a user when the catalog or book610is closed and portion634extends outwardly from the pages612of catalog or book610.

Printed indicia629(which may be black) is positioned on top of colored background ink layer642. Printed indicia629are, in accordance with the preferred embodiment, significantly darker so to clearly contrast with the color of colored background ink layer642for easy readability.

It is noted that indicia629cover on a limited portion of the upper surface637of tab626corresponding to portion634. This provides the user with a convenient space to write.

A release agent layer625is disposed on the entire surface of carrier sheet624. Release agent layer625is silicon based and can be sprayed upon the surface of carrier sheet624. Release agent layer625allows tabs626to be removed from carrier sheet624and placed throughout book or catalog610.

Printed indicia631with a colored background ink layer644are also positioned on the surface633of carrier sheet624. Indicia are positioned to coincide with portion640. Thus, as a user removes tab626printed indicia631and colored background ink layer644are revealed.

As an alternative, colored background ink layers642and644may be replaced with tabs626and carrier624each being manufactured out of a colored material such as plastic, paper, paperboard and the like. Here indicia629and631(which may be black) is positioned on top tab626and/or carrier624. Printed indicia629and631are, in accordance with the preferred embodiment, significantly darker so to clearly contrast with the color of colored tab626and/or carrier624for easy readability.

Alternatively, tab626may be made of transparent plastic and portion640may be opaque. In this configuration, as a user removes tab626, printed indicia631and colored background644on carrier sheet624are revealed, to tell the user that he has won a prize, to direct him to a particular area of the catalog or to inform of a discount or other promotion.

In yet another alternative embodiment, tab626may be made completely out opaque plastic or other suitable substance. In this configuration, portion640of tab626would provide a convenient area for a user to jot down some notes corresponding to catalog or book610.

In yet another alternative embodiment, tab626may be made out paper or other suitable substance for writing and the entire upper surface637of tab626would be free from any printed indicia629. This would provide the user with a larger are to jot down notes corresponding to catalog or book610.

As compared to the embodiment ofFIG. 12, where tabs626are positioned into a pair of columns621and623on carrier624, and each column comprises a plurality of tabs626, tabs626may be positioned to form more than two columns. In accordance with the invention, several carriers, such as carrier,624may also be positioned throughout the catalog.

Likewise, features of the carrier disclosed inFIGS. 1-11may be incorporated into the embodiment ofFIGS. 11 and 12.

For example, tabs626may be positioned so that portion634of tabs626in column621aligns with portion634of tabs626in column623. Accordingly, the center635of carrier624will be defined by portions634of tabs626which are free of adhesive. This feature allows for convenient removal of any one of tabs626which may be located on either side of center635. A user may simply bend the catalog610or carrier624at center635until portion634of tab626may be grasped between the fingers of a user.

Likewise, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, a portion636of the underside638of carrier624is free of temporary adhesive, as illustrated in FIG.13. This allows the carrier and the rest of the tab assembly to be removed and used when the book is open to any page, as discussed above. After such use the tab assembly may be put back into catalog610by being adhered to any page. In addition, catalog610may have several carriers disposed within catalog610.

Page 612, upon which carrier624is located during the manufacture of the catalog incorporating carrier624is also equipped with a release agent layer646to facilitate the removal and attachment of carrier624. Release agent layer646is silicon based and can be sprayed upon the surface of page 612.

As discussed above, carrier sheet624may also be printed with indicia631. If tabs626are made opaque, indicia631is positioned on the surface633of carrier sheet624so that when the user removes tab626, indicia631is revealed.

Surface633is covered with tabs626until the user removes one of the tabs to reveal the hidden message(s)639of indicia631. Hidden message639may be related to the substance of the book, in this case a catalog.

Alternatively, indicia631may be positioned on the lower surface632of tabs626. In this configuration, the hidden message639would not be revealed until the user removes tab626and looks at the lower surface632. Variations of this embodiment may include a message639which states “collect five winning pieces and receive a discount”. The winning pieces may comprise tabs626with a winning indicia631positioned on the lower surface632of tab626.

Accordingly, carrier624may be equipped in some catalogs with only four winning pieces which would be an incentive to request an additional catalog610from a related or participating publisher to obtain the wining pieces.

Accordingly, messages639may be randomly placed on carrier624or a message639may be placed under each tab626.

Thus, as a user removes individual tabs626from the tab assembly and uses them as markers, additional messages are given to the user. Such messages could be related to the tab being pulled, such as, tab626relating to a “Father's Day Gift” may reveal a message such as “Page 12, Great Ties!”.

Alternative cost incentives, discounts or prizes may be concealed as message639. Such messages may read as “Order by May 15, 1996 & get free shipping”. Other messages could be actual gifts, such as a gift certificates and/or prizes.

Variations of message639may include messages such as “better luck next time” or each message may be a prize of some sort.

Alternatively, message639may require the whole surface633of carrier624. In this embodiment only a portion of the message will be revealed as tabs626are removed. Thus, the entire carrier624may carry a single promotional message, and may be a coupon, gift certificate, lottery ticket or the like.

In yet another alternative embodiment and as illustrated by the dashed lines inFIG. 13, carrier624may be made out of a transparent material and indicia631may be positioned on page 612 of book or catalog610.

In this embodiment tab626is opaque and printed indicia631is revealed as tab626is removed.

Alternatively, printed indicia631can be positioned to coincide with portion640. Thus, as a user removes tab626printed indicia631and hidden message639are revealed.

Printed indicia629and631are, in accordance with the preferred embodiment, significantly darker so to clearly be seen through transparent carrier sheet624.

Alternatively, tab626may be made of transparent plastic and only portion640may be opaque. In this configuration, as a user removes tab626, printed indicia631underneath carrier sheet624is revealed, to tell the user that he has won a prize, to direct him to a particular area of the catalog or to inform of a discount or other promotion.

While an illustrative embodiment of the invention has been described above, it is, of course, understood that various modifications will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Such modifications are within the spirit and scope of the invention, which is limited and defined only by the appended claims.