Patent Publication Number: US-8113676-B2

Title: Illuminated book mark

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This novel technology relates to advertising media and, more particularly, to a generally flat, elongated member having an advertising banner display surface and also including a portable, temporary light source for reading theatrical programs or playbills after the house lights have been dimmed. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Bookmarks are elongated, typically thin members insertible between the pages of a book or magazine to make a particular page easy to find. Bookmarks are typically used to mark the page where the reader left off such that the reader may quickly return thereto. 
     Bookmarks, like books, work best in a well-lit environment. In dark environments, a reader may opt to use a portable reading light. A variety of portable reading lights are known, most of which are battery powered attach to either the book or to the reader to shine sufficient light onto a book face to allow the reader to read. However, these portable lights are inappropriate for dark environments such as theaters, as they tend to distract surrounding theater patrons, as well as on-stage performers. 
     There is thus a need for a portable illumination device that can enable a theater patron to read theatrical materials, such as programs and/or playbills in a darkened theater, such as during a performance, without distracting surrounding theater patrons. The present novel technology addresses this need. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present novel technology relates to method and apparatus for reading a theater program during a performance in a darkened theater without otherwise distracting the surrounding theater patrons. One object of the present novel technology is to provide an improved portable reading light. Related objects and advantages of the present novel technology will be apparent from the following description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment illuminatable book mark of the present novel technology. 
         FIG. 2A  is top plan view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 2B  is side elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1   
         FIG. 2C  is a bottom plan view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 2D  is a proximal end elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a second embodiment illuminatable book mark. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the novel technology and presenting its currently understood best mode of operation, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the novel technology is thereby intended, with such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device and such further applications of the principles of the novel technology as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the novel technology relates. 
       FIGS. 1-2D  relate to a first embodiment of the present novel technology, a light emitting member  10  having a generally elongated light generating portion  15  and a generally flat elongated portion  20  extending therefrom. The light emitting member  10  is typically made of a flexible material, such as plastic, although any convenient composition may be selected. The light generating portion  15  typically includes a generally elongated, typically flexible, housing portion  25  with a typically cylindrical or tubular recess  30  formed therein, into which is inserted a light source  33 . In this embodiment, the light source  33  includes first and second capsules  35 ,  40  which may be respectively filled with first and second components  45 ,  50  of a binary light emitting chemical composition. Typically, the first capsule  35  is made of glass, hard plastic or the like and positioned within the second capsule  40 . The second capsule  40  is typically moderately flexible, such that if the housing  25  and capsules  35 ,  40  are sufficiently flexed or bent, the first capsule  40  ruptures, allowing the first and second components  45 ,  50  to mix to yield a light emitting binary compound substantially filling the recess  30 . Alternately, the first and second capsules  35 ,  40  may both be made of a breakable material and positioned within a larger chamber, such that flexure of the housing  25  may break both capsules  35 ,  40  to mix the components  45 ,  50 . Typically, the light emitting binary substance has an effective life of several hours. 
     For example, first and second components  45 ,  50  may be, respectively, hydrogen peroxide solution and a solution including phenyl oxalate ester and a fluorescent dye. When the two solutions are combined, the hydrogen peroxide oxidizes the phenyl oxalate ester, resulting in a phenol and an unstable peroxyacid ester. The unstable peroxyacid ester decomposes, resulting in additional phenol and a cyclic peroxy compound. The cyclic peroxy compound decomposes to carbon dioxide, releasing energy to the dye which allows electrons in the dye atoms to temporarily jump to a higher level. When the electrons return to their original, stable orbitals, they release energy in the form of visible light. 
     Typically, an elongated translucent or transparent window slit  60  is formed through the side of the housing  25  to direct light generated by the binary chemical compound beyond the housing  25  and onto reading matter, such as a theatre program or playbill. The dimensions and transmission properties of the slit  60  are selected such that a predetermined amount of light generated in the recess  30  may shine through the slit  60 . More typically, the light generation characteristics of the binary composition and the dimensions and transmission properties of the slit  60  are chosen such that the light provided by the slit is sufficient for reading in a darkened environment, such as a theater during a show, but is not so bright or intense that it is a nuisance to others, such as the surrounding theater patrons. 
     The generally flat elongated portion  20  has a receiving surface  65  that may typically support messages and/or images, such as advertising copy, sponsorship information, company trademarks and/or logos, and the like. In this particular embodiment, the generally flat elongated portion  20  is opaque to light generated in the recess  30 , but in other embodiments the receiving surface  65  may be at least partially translucent, such that any advertising messages or images displayed thereupon may be backlit. 
     A clip portion  70  typically extends from the light emitting member  10 , typically extending from a surface opposite the receiving surface  65  and adjacent the slit  60 . The clip portion  70  is typically an L-shaped member extending from the proximal end  75  of the light emitting member  10  and extends toward the opposite, distal end  80 . The clip portion  70  typically extends back towards the generally flat elongated portion  20 , although it may extend parallel thereto. 
     In this embodiment, the light generated by the light source  33  is substantially white in color, although different dyes may be added to yield different colors. Likewise, the optical slit  60  may be tinted to further restrict the color of the light shining therethrough. The light emerging from the light source  33  and or optical slit  60  is typically red, but may be any desired color. 
     In operation, the apparatus  10  may be used for discretely illuminating and reading a theater program in a darkened theater during a production or like environment by first locating the apparatus  10 , defined by a generally flat elongated housing portion  25  for containing and directing a light source  33 , wherein the housing portion  25  defines a substantially flat top portion  20 , a light source  33  disposed within the housing portion  25 , and an optical slit  60  formed through the housing portion  25  for directing light from within the housing  25  in a direction away from the substantially flat top portion  20 , and then actuating the light source  33  to produce light. In the case of a binary chemical light source  33 , such actuation is accomplished by bending or twisting the apparatus body  10  until an inner compartment  35  breaks to release the binary chemical components for mixing. The apparatus  10  is placed adjacent a page to be read and light shines through the slit  60  onto the page to be read. Once illuminated, the page may be read. 
     Typically, the light shining through the slit  60  is limited by the slit  60  and the nature of the light source  33  to an apparent intensity or luminous emittance of about 20 lux. More typically, the light shining through the slit  60  is limited by the slit  60  and the nature of the light source  33  to an apparent intensity/luminous emittance of about 10 lux, still more typically to about 5 lux and yet more typically to about 2 lux. 
     In one alternate embodiment light emitting member  10 ′, the slit  60  is of variable dimension, such as having a movable shade member  100  or the like operationally connected thereto (see  FIG. 3 ). In another alternate embodiment the light source  33  is an electric bulb disposed in the recess  33  with a battery likewise disposed in or adjacent to the recess  33 . 
     While the novel technology has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character. It is understood that the embodiments have been shown and described in the foregoing specification in satisfaction of the best mode and enablement requirements. It is understood that one of ordinary skill in the art could readily make a nigh-infinite number of insubstantial changes and modifications to the above-described embodiments and that it would be impractical to attempt to describe all such embodiment variations in the present specification. Accordingly, it is understood that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the novel technology are desired to be protected