Abstract:
A bookmark having a frame with at least three legs joined together in a serial manner; and a decorative piece attached to one of the at least three legs of the frame.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e)(1) from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/003,154 filed Nov. 14, 2007, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to the field of visual indicators used for locating a position, in particular, bookmarks. 
         [0004]    2. Discussion of Related Art 
         [0005]    The use of bookmarks is known in the prior art. Prior bookmarks had a tendency to be static and/or lack an ornamental character. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, there is a need for a bookmark that provides an ornamental character and can use dynamically moving elements. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    One aspect of the present invention regards a bookmark that includes a frame having at least three legs joined together in a serial manner and a decorative piece attached to one of the at least three legs of the frame. 
         [0008]    Another aspect of the present invention regards a bookmark that includes a frame having at least three legs joined together in a serial manner and a textual cover that is disposed on a portion of the frame. The bookmark may further have a decorative piece attached to the frame. 
         [0009]    Another aspect of the present invention regards a method of using a bookmark, including providing a bookmark that includes a frame having at least three legs joined together in a serial manner and a decorative piece attached to one of the at least three legs of the frame. The method further includes using the bookmark to mark a page location among pages of a document. The bookmark may further include disposing a textual cover on a portion of the frame. 
         [0010]    Another aspect of the present invention regards a method of using a bookmark, including providing a bookmark that includes a frame having at least three legs joined together in a serial manner and a textual cover that is disposed on a portion of the frame. The bookmark may further include attaching a decorative piece attached to the frame. 
         [0011]    One or more of the above aspects of the present invention provide the advantage of a bookmark that has an ornamental character and can use dynamically moving elements. 
         [0012]    The present invention, together with attendant objects and advantages, will be best understood with reference to the detailed description below in connection with the attached drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates a bookmark of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  depicts a frame and textual cover prior to assembling a bookmark of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  depicts a frame and a textual cover prior to assembling a bookmark of the present invention in another embodiment; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  depicts the step of placing the frame within the textual cover; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  depicts the step of placing the frame within the textual cover in another embodiment; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  depicts the step of folding the textual cover around the frame according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  depicts the step of securing the textual cover around the frame according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  depicts an embodiment of the present invention having one decorative piece secured to the frame; 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  depicts an embodiment of the present invention having three decorative pieces secured to the frame; 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  depicts an embodiment of the present invention where the decorative pieces are attached to the hanging arm using various means; 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  depicts an embodiment of the present invention where the decorative pieces are attached to the hanging arm using various means and the hanging arms are secured in place by stoppers; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  depicts an embodiment of the present invention where a decorative piece is secured to a textual cover overlaying a frame. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0025]    The structure and features of the bookmark of the present invention and method of using the bookmark of the present invention are best understood with reference to the drawings.  FIG. 1  shows the basic construction of the bookmark  10 . A frame  12  provides the underlying of the structure of the bookmark  10 . The frame  12  may be composed of a wire or a semi-rigid plastic material. In one embodiment, the frame is an 18 gauge floral stem wire. The frame  12  may be one continuous material or it may be comprised of pieces attached together. In this embodiment, the frame  12  has a substantially rectangular base and is twisted into a configuration resembling a dotted “i”. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , a hanging arm  14  is attached to the top of frame  12 . In this embodiment, the hanging arm  14  is securely attached to the frame  12  such that the hanging arm does not move. A decorative piece  16  is attached to the hanging arm  14 . In one embodiment, the hanging arm  14  is welded to the frame  12 . The textual cover  18  is disposed over the rectangular portion of the frame  12 . The textual cover may include any suitable textile or sheet of plastic. 
         [0026]      FIGS. 2-7  illustrate the process of constructing a bookmark of the present invention.  FIG. 2  displays the frame  12  along side the textual cover  18 . A hanging arm  14  is attached to the frame  12 . The textual cover  18  is folded into three portions, the first portion  20  and a second portion  22  and a third portion  24 , both the second portion  22  and the third portion  24  sized substantially the same as the width of the frame  12 .  FIG. 3  shows an additional embodiment of the present invention, in which the hanging arm  26  is not securely attached to the frame  28 , but is attached in a manner to allow the hanging arm  26  to swing forwards and backwards. Two stoppers  30 ,  32  prevent the hanging arm  26  from sliding down the frame  28 . In another embodiment, the hanging arm may be secured to the frame by coiling the hanging arm around the frame in a manner that allows the hanging arm to swing. 
         [0027]      FIG. 4  displays the step of placing the frame  12  within the second portion  22  of the textual cover  18 .  FIG. 5  displays the step of placing the frame  28  having the hanging arm  26  that swings within the second portion  22  of the textual cover  18 .  FIG. 6  displays the step of folding the first portion  20  and the third portion  24  of the textual cover  18  around the frame  12 . In  FIG. 7 , the step of securing the first portion  20  to the third portion  24  of the textual cover  18  is illustrated. In one embodiment, an adhesive secures the first portion  20  to the third portion  24 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 8  depicts an embodiment of the present invention in which the bookmark  30  has one hanging arm  32  that is loosely attached to the frame  34  in a manner that allows the hanging arm  32  to swing. Two stoppers  34 ,  36  are disposed on each side of the hanging arm  32  to prevent the hanging arm from sliding along the frame  38 . A decorative piece  40  is secured to the hanging arm  32 . A textual cover  42  is disposed on a portion of the frame  38 . 
         [0029]    In another embodiment as shown in  FIG. 9 , the bookmark  44  includes a frame  58 , three hanging arms  46 ,  48 ,  50 , three decorative pieces  52 ,  54 ,  56 , and a textual cover  60 . In this embodiment, the hanging arms  46 ,  48 , and  50  are loosely attached such that the hanging arms may swing. In another embodiment, the hanging arms may be welded securely such that the decorative piece does not move. 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIG. 10 , the decorative pieces  61 ,  62 , and  64  may be secured to the hanging arms  66 ,  68 ,  70  through various means. Decorative piece  61  is secured by placing a bead  72  at the end of the hanging arm  66 . Decorative piece  62  is secured by a forming a loop  74  with the end of the hanging arm  68 . Decorative piece  64  is secured by a stopper  76 . In another embodiment as shown in  FIG. 11 , the frames  78 ,  80 ,  82  are each provided with a set of stoppers  84 ,  86 ;  88 ,  90 ; and  92 ,  94  respectively. As discussed above, these stoppers prevent the hanging arm from sliding along the frame. 
         [0031]    In another embodiment as shown in  FIG. 12 , a textual cover  96  is placed over a wire frame (not shown). A portion of the textual cover is cut out to form an opening, such as hole  98 , and a decorative piece  100  is secured/attached to the textual cover  96  via a loop  102 . The decorative piece  100  is positioned within the hole  98 . In an alternative embodiment, bookmark of  FIG. 12  is altered so that no wire frame is used. Instead, the textual cover is a plastic material that contains hole  98  and has the decorative piece attached and positioned in the manner described previously. 
         [0032]    The foregoing description is provided to illustrate the invention, and is not to be construed as a limitation. Numerous additions, substitutions and other changes can be made to the invention without departing from its scope as set forth in the appended claims.