Patent Publication Number: US-2004045496-A1

Title: Magnetic bookmark

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
     [0001] This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/121,083 filed on Feb. 19, 1999, entitled MAGNETIC BOOKMARK, and is a continuation-in-part of pending Utility patent application Ser. No. 10/109,497, filed Mar. 28, 2002, which is a continuation-in-part of pending Utility patent application Ser. No. 09/507,295, filed Feb. 18, 2000, now issued. 
    
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] This invention most generally relates to a magnetic device that can be used to mark places in books, magazines, newspapers, among other documents. More particularly the invention relates to placemarkers that adhere through magnetism, and are adorned with indicia.  
       [0003] 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.  
       [0004] Magnetic bookmarks exist in which strips of flexible material such as cloth or paper are folded in half, adhesive is added to the ends of the material, and magnets are placed on the adhesive. Because the cloth or paper does not itself have the structural integrity to retain its shape during use, a second shorter strip is sometimes secured to the main strip and folded at or near the point of attachment. Alternatively, a separate strip is attached to the outer surface at the fold so that the marked position is visible to the reader. The separate strip, also of very flexible material such as cloth, can be engraved or otherwise marked. Nowhere is it disclosed that an item of substance, such as a button or jewel, is attached to the strips of flexible material that fold.  
       [0005] Magnetic fastening devices are disclosed that can have such items as nametags glued to them. These devices are used to adhere to clothing, refrigerators, etc., but are too bulky for thinner surfaces, such as pages in a document.  
       [0006] Clipped bookmarkers are disclosed in which the page is marked by the spring pressure action of two paperclip-type portions pressing on opposite sides of a page. In these types of devices, there are front and rear paperclip-type portions disclosed. The rear portion is disclosed with a side that is flush with the page and an opposite side that could have, for example, a magnet attached to it. The magnet is used to, for example, mount the bookmarker on a refrigerator. The clip-type bookmarker has the obvious disadvantage of being limited in the number of pages that can be gathered between its portions.  
       [0007] What is needed is a placemarker for document pages that has opposing magnets attached to or integral with material that is flexible but that holds its shape, such as flexible plastic. What is also needed is a placemarker that is rigid enough to be positioned so that part of it extends beyond the edge of the document, making the marked page(s) easy to locate, without the requirement of an additional strip. What is further required is a placemarker that could be adorned on any external side with all kinds of items, not simply inked lettering, but including buttons, bobbles, jewels, metals, etc. What is still further needed is a magnetic placemarker that can be folded in any way, not confined to a mid-point fold in order to insure the alignment of opposing magnets. What is still further needed is a magnetic placemarker that can be fabricated into any shape, the magnetic portion lying within the fold of the placemarker surrounding the pages of the document.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008] The problems set forth above as well as further and other problems are solved by the present invention. The solutions and advantages of the present invention are achieved by the illustrative embodiment described hereinbelow.  
       [0009] A placemarker for a document that stays in place through magnetic force, holds it shape during use, can be formed of any shape, and is rigid enough to host items, the items having independent structure, is disclosed. The placemarker of the present invention includes a substrate, such as, for example, plastic, having weight and size suitable for surrounding pages in a document, the substrate having a first surface and an opposing second surface, the substrate being of sufficient rigidity to support items having independent substance, such as, for example, a button. The substrate can take any shape including, but not limited to, geometric, irregular, symbolic, animal, character, or plant. For example, the substrate could take the shape of a rectangle that is folded lengthwise, where a first portion of the substrate could fold over a first side of a page, and where the remainder of the substrate could fold over a second side of the page and be mutually attracted through magnetism to the first portion folded over the first side of the page. Alternatively, and by way of example, the substrate could have the shape of two baseballs, for example, connected by any means for connecting known in the art or fabricated in a connected way at an edge. Possible means for connecting could include, for example, but not limited to, hinges, snaps, or laces.  
       [0010] Any shape can be accomplished by cutting the substrate to the desired shape and affixing, if not already integrated, a magnetic substance to the first surface, i.e. the surface that surrounds the page when the placemarker is in use. The magnetic substance can have a plurality of mutually attractive portions that, when placed in alignment when the placemarker is in use, connect the portions to each other. The magnetic substance could include a plurality of magnets attached through adhesive to the first surface, or it could include a continuous magnetic surface attached to or integral with the first surface. Alternatively, the substrate could itself be a magnetic substance that, when folded, exhibits mutual attractive properties that hold the folded parts of the first surface together. Note that the folded parts could also be two separate parts, if the substrate is formed in two separate pieces, and could be connected by any means for connecting known in the art.  
       [0011] The substrate of the placemarker of the present invention is substantial enough so that items having structure independent from the substrate can be attached to the substrate without compromising the shape-holding integrity of the substrate. Thus, the placemarker of the present invention can include at least one item attached to the second surface such as a button, a charm, metal, a jewel, and other such articles of substance that could be attached with adhesive or other attaching means commonly known in the art. When the placemarker is folded, the second surface, the surface upon which at least one item is placed, is visible.  
       [0012] A method for making a placemarker is disclosed. The method of the illustrative embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of forming a substrate to a shape, the substrate having a first surface and an opposing second surface, the first surface having a first portion and a second portion; forming a magnetic attraction between the first portion and the second portion; and affixing at least one item to the second surface.  
       [0013] The placemarker of the present invention has the particular objective and advantage of remaining in the marked location no matter how the document is oriented, and no matter how many times the marker is used. This is because magnets, unlike adhesive or clip markers, do not lose their adhesive properties, nor stretch from use, nor vary in their ability to securely fasten after repeated use.  
       [0014] In the illustrative embodiment of the invention, the marker is constructed of a folded piece of sturdy material, on which inner sides of the folded material are affixed magnets. This embodiment of the marker can be folded over one or several pages, anywhere on the page to thus mark a specific location at which point, perhaps, reading was suspended.  
       [0015] For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects thereof, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and detailed description. The scope of the present invention is pointed out in the appended claims. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
     [0016]FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the placemarker of the present invention when in use;  
     [0017]FIG. 1B is a transparent, perspective view of alternate embodiments of the placemarker of the present invention when in use;  
     [0018]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the second surface of a rectangularly-shaped illustrative embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0019]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first surface of the rectangularly-shaped illustrative embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0020]FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective views of a non-mid-point folded placemarker of a first alternate embodiment of the present invention; and  
     [0021] FIGS.  5 A-C are perspective views of a second alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0022] The present invention is now described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which illustrative embodiments of the present invention aer shown.  
     [0023] Referring to FIG. 1A, placemarker  10  can be removably attached to at least one page of document or book  101 . Illustrative embodiment  11  is a rectangular placemarker that is formed by folding a substrate, that has been magnetized on its inner surface, over a page or pages in book  101 . Button  218  is an exemplary item that is affixed to the outer surface of illustrative embodiment  11 .  
     [0024] Referring now to FIG. 2, the outer surface of placemarker  10  is shown. Substrate  12 , having predetermined averaged width  222  and averaged length  220  dimensions, is formed of a material that holds its shape when positioned in any way around the pages of a document, such as, for example, but not limited to, paperboard, plastic, magnetic strip, rubber, and vinyl. In addition, substrate  12  is of a weight suitable for surrounding the pages of a document. Geometric shape  211 , character  216 , and button  218  may be placed on rear and front portions  210  and  214 . Substrate  12  can be fabricated to be, for example, foldable substantially about pivot point  212 , thereby creating rear and front portions  210  and  214 , respectively.  
     [0025] Referring now to FIG. 3, first magnetic segment  310  can be securely and perhaps removably affixed to first portion  314  that opposes of rear portion  210 , and second magnetic segment  312  can be securely and perhaps removably affixed to second portion  316  that opposes front portion  214 . First and second magnetic segments  310  and  312  respectively can be integral to substrate  12  as well. In operation, first and second magnetic segments  310  and  312  are oriented to be mutually attracted when substrate  12  is folded so that first and second portions  314  and  316  securely surround a document&#39;s page or pages. First and second magnetic segments  310  and  312  can be as large or small as needed or desired, and can each be multiple magnet segments, not being limited to a single segment. Substrate  12  can be a continuous magnetic strip.  
     [0026] Referring now to FIG. 1B, first alternate embodiment  15  and second alternate embodiment  13  of placemarker  10  are shown. First alternate embodiment  15  is a placemarker having front and rear portions of differing sizes, but the same shape (rectangular). Second alternate embodiment  13  is a placemarker having front and rear portions of differing shapes, in this case a polygon and a circle respectively.  
     [0027] Referring now to FIG. 4A, first alternate embodiment  15  (FIG. 1B) is shown in detail. First surface  700  of the substrate is divided in unequal portions, first and second portions  701  and  703 . First portion  701  is folded on fold line or means for connecting  702 . The substrate could be folded at any point along its length or width Second portion  703  includes the remainder of the substrate. Referring to FIG. 4B, second surface front portion  709  hosts independent structure button  705  and geometric shape  707 . Example items  705  and  707  have utility (as a button and star-shaped pin) separate from their use on the substrate, and are herein used as adornment to front portion  709 , being attached through adhesive or other known means. Example items  705  and  707  could have been attached to rear portion  711  as well.  
     [0028] Referring again to FIG. 1B, second alternate embodiment  13  is shown in detail. Substrate  800  is formed into the shape, for example, of two baseballs. Shown in FIGS.  5 A-B are first and second portions  801  and  803 , respectively, hinged at fold line or means for connecting  802 . Shown in FIG. 5C is second surface  807  adorned with nameplate  805 , which is, in this example, a metal nameplate riveted onto the front portion of second surface  807 . Note that second surface  807  is not required to contain identical sections across fold line or means for connecting  802 , but can include, for example, a baseball on one side and a catcher&#39;s mitt on the other side.  
     [0029] The material used in the construction of the illustrative and alternate embodiments can include, but is not limited to, paperboard, plastic, magnetic strip, rubber, synthetics, and vinyl. Items  216 ,  218 ,  532 , and  534  affixed to outward-facing surfaces  214  and  530  can include, but are not limited to, buttons, jewels, bobbles, charms, nameplates, photos, and metals.  
     [0030] Although the invention has been described with respect to various embodiments, it should be realized this invention is also capable of a wide variety of further and other embodiments within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.