Patent Abstract:
A bookmark has a compartment for storing an article for use by a reader. The bookmark preferably comprises a pouch that is capable of being placed between pages of a book, and a tab that protrudes from a periphery of a book or pages of a book. The pouch holds an article in the compartment, which can be opened to access and retrieve the article. In addition, the tab or pouch may contain data entry fields for inputting data relative to the book and person reading the book. Indicia may also be disposed on a surface of the tab.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/293,437 filed Dec. 2, 2005, now abandoned which claims the benefit of the U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/633,411, filed Dec. 3, 2004. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   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. 
   Bookmarks primarily serve the singular purpose of marking the page or pages for a person reading a book, magazine, journal or the like. However, the bookmark may take the form of various shapes and sizes, or contain varying artwork or words for a user&#39;s enjoyment. Primarily bookmarks have a first portion that is inserted between pages of a book, and a second portion connected to the first 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 second portion protruding beyond the periphery of the book enables the reader to readily locate the page on which the person stopped reading. 
   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 
   The present invention is for a bookmark has a limited first lifecycle for use as a bookmark, and when a book is completed the bookmark is retained as a keepsake containing information relative to a reader and/or a book having been read by a user. To that end, the present invention is for a bookmark having a compartment for storing an article for use by a reader, the article being placed in the pouch by the manufacturer of the bookmark. The bookmark preferably comprises a lower pouch having a sealed top end and a sealed bottom end. A tab is affixed to the top end of the pouch so that a portion of the pouch may be inserted between pages of a book, wherein at least a portion of the tab protrudes from a periphery of a book, or pages of a book, to serve as a book mark. The compartment of the pouch holds the article, and the compartment can be opened to access and retrieve the article. In an embodiment the bottom end of the pouch is detachable from a remaining portion to open the pouch and compartment. In addition, the tab or pouch may contain data entry for inputting data relative to the book and person reading the book. The tab may also have fanciful indicia that may be relevant to the book, the article in the pouch or relevant to a reader&#39;s likenesses. 
   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 a bottom end of the pouch is detached from a remaining portion of the pouch 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 
     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. 
       FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of an embodiment of the bookmark according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a rear elevational view of an embodiment of the bookmark according to the present invention, showing horizontally disposed data fields for entry of historical data relative to the reader and/or book. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a book in which the bookmark according to the present invention is placed. 
       FIG. 4  is a rear elevational view of an embodiment of the bookmark according to the present invention having vertically disposed data entry fields for recording historical data relative to a reader and/or the book. 
       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. 
       FIG. 6  is a front elevational view of an embodiment of the bookmark according to the present invention with an enlarged oval backdrop as part of the tab. 
       FIG. 7  is a front elevational view of an embodiment of the bookmark according to the present invention with an enlarged rectangular backdrop as part of the tab. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 . The bookmark  10  shown in  FIG. 1  includes an upper section or tab  11  and a lower pouch  12  for holding an article  13  that is useable for a reader. At least a portion of the pouch  12  is inserted between pages  18  of a book  17 . As shown in  FIG. 3  at least a portion of the tab  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  to mark the page or location in a book where a person is reading. 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 gum sticks, taffy, pressed fruit, hard candy 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. 
   With respect to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the tab  11  may have an indicia  23  such as fanciful character or design disposed on a first side  11 A of the tab  11 , and data entry fields  24  disposed on a second side  11 B of the tab  11 . Alternatively, a character or design may be printed on a separate piece of material, which is adhered to the tab  11 . In another embodiment, the tab  11  of the bookmark  10  may include a logo of a manufacturer and/or distributor of the article  13  within the compartment; or, the indicia  23  may be a character or design that has some relevance to the readable item  17  or to the reader. 
   The data entry fields  24  may be printed directly on the tab  11  ( FIG. 2 ) or the pouch  12  ( FIG. 4 ). Alternatively the data entry fields may be printed on a medium that can be adhered to the tab  11  or pouch  12 . The data entry fields  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. After the book is read, the article is removed from the pouch  12 . The pouch  12  and tab  11 , at this stage, no longer serve the function of a bookmark but are intended to be retained as a keepsake as explained in more detail below. 
   In an embodiment as mentioned above, the pouch  12  may be formed from available materials such as paper, cellophane, plastics, aluminum used in packaging and is thin enough to tear. Typically, a single sheet of material is folded and sealed at a top end  12 A and bottom end  12 B, and along a side edge  12 C of the pouch  12  forming the compartment  19  therein. In any of the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1 through 7 , the tab  11  may be composed of a material that is different than the material making up the pouch  12 . For example, tab  11  may be a cardstock paper, cardboard, plastic or any material to which the lower section  12  can be attached. 
   In any of the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1 through 7 , the tab  11  and pouch  12  may be composed of the same materials whereby a seal  25  is formed between the tab  11  and pouch  12 . By way of example shrink wrapping, vacuum sealing or heat sealing technology may be used to form the seal  25  between the tab  11  and pouch  12 . Heat applied to the tab  11 , or an area between the tab  11  and pouch  12  forms the seal  25 . The indicia  23  may be printed on the tab  11 , or adhered to the tab  11  as a separate part. In the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the tab  11  includes an enlarged background for printing or adding artwork. 
   With respect to  FIG. 5 , the pouch  12  includes a means for opening the pouch  12  or compartment  19  to retrieve the article  13 . In an embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , a bottom end  12 B of the pouch  12  is detachable from a remaining portion of the pouch  12 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4 , the pouch  12  includes a perforation  20  disposed on the pouch  12  distal the tab  11  forming the detachable bottom end  12 B. The means for opening the pouch  12  or compartment  19  is not limited to a perforation, but may include other methods or devices that are known to those skilled in the art that form a weakened area along a material to enable one to cleanly open an enclosure, such as a small gap formed in the pouch  12  to initiate a tear. 
   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. The tab  11  and remaining portion of the pouch  12  are retained as a keepsake and no longer useable as a bookmark, thereby provided a historical keepsake having information relative to the reader and/or book. 
   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.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1