Abstract:
A bookmark has a compartment for storing an article for use by a reader. The bookmark preferably comprises a lower section that is capable of being placed between pages of a book, and an upper section that protrudes from a periphery of a book or pages of a book. At least a portion of the lower section forms the compartment that holds the article, and the compartment can be opened to access and retrieve the article. In addition, the upper section or lower section may contain data entry lines for inputting data relative to the book and person reading the book.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of the U.S. provisional application, Application No. 60/633,411, filed Dec. 3, 2004. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates in general to bookmarks. More particularly, the invention pertains to bookmarks that have been adapted to provide multiple purposes beyond serving as a mark for a page in a book, magazine, journal or the like.  
         [0003]     Bookmarks primarily serve the purpose of marking the page or pages for a person reading a book, magazine, journal or the like. The bookmark may take the form of various shapes or sizes. Primarily bookmarks have a lower portion that is inserted between pages of a book, and an upper portion connected to the lower portion that extends beyond a periphery of the pages of the book. With such a configuration, when a person stops reading a book, the reader places the bookmark in a desired position on the page being read and closes the book. Having the upper portion protruding beyond the periphery of the book enables the reader to readily locate the page on which the person stopped reading.  
         [0004]     Ben-Dor et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 6,722,309, discloses a bookmark that may serve another purpose other than simply marking a page in a book. The bookmark has an upper hook-like section that rides over the binding of a book, and acts as an “attention-attracting” item, such as pencil sharpener, photograph or advertising piece which may be attached to the hook-like section. The &#39;309 patent also mentions that the bookmark itself may be formed of a suitable candy substance. Accordingly, the use of the bookmark as a candy substance raises sanitary issues.  
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention is for a bookmark having a compartment for storing an article for use by a reader. The bookmark preferably comprises a lower section that is capable of being placed between pages of a book, and an upper section that protrudes from a periphery of a book or pages of a book. At least a portion of the lower section forms the compartment that holds the article, and the compartment can be opened to access and retrieve the article. In addition, the upper section or lower section may contain data entry lines for inputting data relative to the book and person reading the book.  
         [0006]     In one embodiment, the upper section is attached in sealing relationship to the lower section forming a pocket or pouch-like configuration forming the compartment in the lower section. The upper section may be separable from the lower section to open the compartment. Alternatively, the lower section may include a means for opening the compartment and/or closing the compartment. The bookmark may be disposable, or if the compartment can be closed, the bookmark can be reused.  
         [0007]     In another embodiment, the upper section and lower section are integrally connected forming a compartment that extends an entire length of the bookmark. The bookmark includes means, operatively connected to the upper section and/or the lower section for opening and/or closing the compartment.  
         [0008]     The invention is ideally suited for children, but not limited to use by children. The invention provides a reward for a child reader upon completion of a book. Once a child finishes reading a book the lower section is separated from upper section and/or the compartment is opened to retrieve the article. In addition, the child and/or parent of the child, may record on the bookmark the name of the child, the title of the book and the date the child completed reading the book. The bookmark of the present invention also provides a sanitary delivery system in the case the article is an edible insert used with the bookmark. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     A more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings.  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of an embodiment of the bookmark according to the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the bookmark according to the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a book in which the bookmark according to the present invention is placed.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a front elevational view of an embodiment of the bookmark according to the present invention having an insert being retrieved from the bookmark.  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a front elevational view of an embodiment of the bookmark according to the present invention having an insert being retrieved from the bookmark.  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a front elevational view of an embodiment of the bookmark according to the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is a front elevational view of an embodiment of the bookmark according to the present invention having an insert being retrieved from the bookmark.  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  is a rear elevational view of an embodiment of the bookmark according to the present invention having an insert being retrieved from the bookmark.  
         [0018]      FIG. 9  is a side elevational view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]     An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 4 . The bookmark  10  shown in  FIG. 1  includes an upper section  11  and lower section  12 . At least a portion of the lower section  12  is inserted between pages  18  of a book  17 . As shown in  FIG. 3  at least a portion of the upper section  11  extends or protrudes beyond a periphery defined by the outer edges of pages  18  or the outer edge  17 A of the book  17 .  
         [0020]     With respect to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the lower section  12  is preferably formed as a pouch-like configuration for receiving the article  13 . In an exemplary embodiment, the lower section  12  includes a front panel  14  and back panel  15  attached in sealing relationship with one another. The panels  14  and  15  may be sealed along an outer edge  16  to form a compartment  19  for receiving the article  13 . The panels  14  and  15  may also be a single piece of material folded over and the edges of the material are sealed with an appropriate adhesive to form the compartment. The invention is not intended to be limited to this particular configuration or shape of the lower section  12 , but may include any shape or assembly that forms a compartment for receiving a useful article for a reader. The lower section  12  is preferably composed of a transparent thin plastic or cellophane material. However, the lower section  12  does not have to be transparent and can be composed of materials such as a thin paper, foil or any material. If the bookmark  10  is disposable, the material selected for the lower section  12 , should be thin enough to easily tear open or so the lower section  12  may be separated from the upper section  11  to retrieve the article  13  as explained below in more detail.  
         [0021]     The article  13  may take the form of any item that can fit within the compartment  19 . For example, the article  13  may include edible items such as gumsticks, fruit rollups or the like or paper items providing game pieces, coupons, promotional pieces, etc. The article  13  is preferably thin and not bulky such that the book cannot be closed when not in use.  
         [0022]     A top end  12 A of the lower section is preferably attached in sealing relationship to the upper section  11 , forming a seal  23  between the upper section  11  and the lower section  12 , to encase the article  13  within the lower section  12 . The bookmark  10  may include means for separating the lower section  12  from the upper section  11  in order to open the compartment  19  to retrieve the article  13 . For example, the upper section  11  may be comprised of the same material as the lower section  12  and a perforation  20  is formed on the seal  23  or below the seal  23  on the lower section  12 . Alternatively, a tab (not shown) may be attached to the seal  23  to pull and break the seal  23  between the upper section  11  and lower section  12  for opening the compartment  19 . In such cases the lower section  11  and/or upper section  12  may be disposable.  
         [0023]     The invention is not limited to a disposable bookmark, but may include a bookmark that is reusable. With respect to  FIG. 5 , an embodiment is shown in which the compartment  19  in the lower section  12  has means for opening and closing the compartment  19 . The lower section  12  may include an open/close mechanism  21 , such as a zip-lock, an adhesive flap, small button/snap mechanism, hook and loop mechanism (Velcro®) or any other simple open and closure mechanism that can be attached to the lower section  12 . The opening and closing means may be disposed below the top section  11  on the top end  12 A of the lower section  12 , along the sides or bottom of outer edge  16 .  
         [0024]     The upper section  11  may have a fanciful character  24  or design printed on one or both sides of the upper section  11 . Alternatively, a character or design may be printed on a separate piece of material, which is adhered to the upper section  11 . In another embodiment, the upper section  11  of the bookmark  10  may include a logo of a manufacturer and/or distributor of the article  13 .  
         [0025]     The upper section  11  may be composed of a material that is different than the material making up the lower section  12 . For example, the upper section  11  may be a cardstock paper, cardboard, plastic or any material to which the lower section  12  can be attached. However, as noted above, the upper section  11  may also be composed of the same material comprising the lower section  12 .  
         [0026]     In the embodiments illustrated in  FIG. 4 , data entry lines  24  are provided on the upper section  11  of the bookmark  10 . These data entry lines  24  may be printed directly on the sections  11  and  12  or on cards that can be adhered to the sections  11  or  12  and can be removed from or attached to the bookmark  10 . The data entry lines  24  provide space to record information about the reader and/or the book, such as name of the reader, the title of the book, and the date the reader completed reading the book. After the reader completes the book, the above referenced information can be recorded on the available space and bookmark  10  or sections  11  and  12  containing the information and stored as a keepsake. In the case where the bookmark is reusable, and on which a card containing the data entry lines  24  is attached to the bookmark  10 , the card can be removed and another card with data entry lines  24  is attached to the bookmark  10  for later use.  
         [0027]     With respect to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , an embodiment is shown in which the lower section  12  has a disposable tab  22  distal to the upper section  11 . When the child finishes reading the book, the disposable tab  22  is removed to obtain the article  13 . Space for historical information is provided on the lower section  22 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , so the upper section  11  and lower section  12  are retained for recording the child&#39;s accomplishment. As described above, a card having space for recording the historical data can be removably attached to the bookmark  10 . When the child finishes the book, the parent records the data or information and removes the card and replaces it with another for later use.  
         [0028]     Another embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9  comprises a bookmark  10  in which the compartment  19  extends from the upper section  11  to the lower section  12 . A seal does not separate the upper section  11  and lower section  12 , so the compartment  19  may extend an entire length of the bookmark  10 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , the bookmark  10  includes a front panel  25  operatively connected to, and preferably sealed to a back panel  26  forming the compartment  19 , in which the article  13  is stored. An indicia or data entry lines may be printed onto, or attached to the sections  11  and/or  12  as described above.  
         [0029]     The bookmark  10  preferably includes a means for opening the compartment  19  to retrieve the article  13 . The embodiment shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9  is a reusable bookmark  10 , so the opening means may include the above described closure mechanisms to open and close the compartment  19 . Alternatively, the bookmark may be disposable and include a perforation for tearing open the compartment  19 . The bookmark  10  may be composed of a separable material, such as paper, plastic or cellophane, that can be torn to open the compartment.  
         [0030]     The invention is ideally suited for children, but not limited to use by children, wherein the bookmark  10  provides a reward for a child reader upon completion of a book  17 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , once a child finishes reading a book the lower section  12  is separated from upper section  11  and/or opened to retrieve the article  13 , which may be an edible insert. The lower section  12  and upper section  11  may be disposed of, if the bookmark is of a disposable nature as described above. In the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 4 and 7 , upper section  11  or lower section  12  have space available for recording the child&#39;s accomplishment. For example, the child and/or parent of the child, may record the name of the child, the title of the book and the date the child completed reading the book. For those embodiments in which the bookmark  10  is reusable, the parent can fill the compartment  19  with another article  13  for later use.  
         [0031]     While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious that such embodiments are provided by way of example only and not of limitation. Numerous variations, changes and substitutions will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the teaching of the present invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be interpreted within the full spirit and scope of the appended claims.