An Improved Book Marker.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Mar., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 3rd July, 1893-Accepted, 21st Oct., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Book Marker.
I, SAMUEL HOWE 98, Lordship Lane East Dulwich London, S.E. Decorator do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
An improved book marker self-acting, constructed of brass, tin, or other metal
or material, as I may select or that is suitable for the purpose. After once
adjusted to the book it requires no readjustment and on the reader turning over a
leaf the marker will of its own action stop on the succeeding one and so on to the
last page.
he invention is useful to all classes of readers and valuable equally for the
study, the library the music room and for travelling and after folding will occupy
no more space than a small pen knife.
For the purpose of describing my invention, and the nature of it more clearly, I
herewith furnish drawings of its several parts, not confining myself to this design
or dimension, but only as shewing or illustrating a full size working model.
Figs. A, B, C, E and G are strips of thin brass, cut and punched as
shewn.
Figs. a, b, c and 9 are the same strips, folded and in section.
Fig. D are two rivets connecting the working parts together. Set-screws with
nuts may be used in place of these.
Fig. F is a bone or ivory bar made to revolve freely in its position as seen in
Fig. 2, this bar may be made of any other suitable material.
Fig. H is a spring, here shewn as double, to work freely in a groove as shewn by
the thick line in Fig. 2.
Fig. I is a small bar connecting c and g together thus forming a universal joint
action.
Fig. J, is a pin shaped bar folded in shape, as at L over which are placed two
thin brass tubes K. K. these tubes revolving freely. This bar is an alternative one
to the bone or ivory as shewn at F.
Fig. 1 is the marker folded and in position with the cover of a book in section
at a.
The slight pressure required to keep the marker in position is obtained by the
spring action at b, and rubber caps or bands may be used for the same purpose on
those parts coming in contact with the outside cover.
Fig. 2. is the marker open and in action, the slight pressure of the spring,
combined with the revolving bar, causes the leaves to be easily and safely turned
over without difficulty. Automatic in action, it adapts itself to every thickness of
the book, and may be placed in various positions with equal facility.
Dated March 13th 1893.
SAMUEL HOWE,
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Book Marker.
I, SAMUEL HOWE 98 Lordship Lane East Dulwich London, S.E. Decorator
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
An improved book marker, automatic, constructed of brass, tin, or other metal
or material as I may select or that is suitable for the purpose. After once adjusted
to the book it requires no re-adjustment, and on the reader turning over a leaf the

page_text: marker will of its own action stop on the succeeding one, and so on to the
last page.
The invention is useful to all classes of readers and valuable equally for the
study, the library the music room and for travelling, and after folding will occupy
no more space than a pen knife. I hereby refer to the drawings left with the
Provisional Specification as illustrating the several parts of the said invention, as
therein shewn, yet not confining myself to this design, as the pattern can be varied
to any other design hereafter determined, the sizes also may vary according to
requirement, for instance Fig. 1 represents a large size marker, but for all ordinary
purposes, one about two inches long will be found sufficient, thus taking very
little more space than a watch key whatever difference in size or pattern, they
carry out the purpose of the invention namely a self acting or automatic book
marker.
The several parts also may be made different, the rivets D can be replaced by
screws, and the spring H may be of any other convenient shape that will carry
out the principles of the invention, and any other extension contraction or improve-
ment may be made as may suggest itself to me still keeping in view the main idea
as before stated.
Substantially the aforesaid invention is a compact and mechanically constructed
instrument, devised with the object of providing an article both strong and useful
at a price intended to be within the reach of all who desire to make reading and
study a greater pleasure. But the main purpose of my said invention is to meet a
long felt want namely a book marker that will act within itself or without the aid
of the reader or user. It is obvious to every one that the student or user of books
as a rule are absent minded on this point, and will often if not always drop a book
without thought thus loosing time and exhausting patience in finding the lost page,
the marker infallably takes this upon itself and releases the user from that exercise
of the memory which detracts somewhat from the pleasures of study or simple
reading, settling itself from page to page with unfailing regularity without the
necessity of once touching it the marker is a memory in itself." From investigation
as far as it as been possible to make, I find, that, all other markers require constant
moving by hand, this contrivance and the nature of its construction from the first
placing on the right hand cover of the book to the last page need not of necessity
be touched, and instantly slipped off may be folded in a small space ready for use
again.
The following describes the several parts and refer to the drawings as stated in
the commencement of this description.
Figs. A. B. C. E. Gare strips of thin hress cut and punched as shewn.
Figs. a. . . are the same strips folded and in section.
Fig. D are two rivets or screws connecting the working parts together.
Fig. is a bone or ivory or metal bar made to revolve freely in its position as
seen in Fig. 2.
Fig. His a spring here shewn as double but may be of any other suitable
shape.
Fig. I is a bar connecting and y together thus forming a universal joint
action.
Fig. J is a pin shaped bar folded in shape as at L over which are placed two
thin brass tubes revolving freely, as shewn at K. K this bar is an alternative one
to that at F and only shewn here for the purpose of illustrating the fact, that more
than one shape may be adopted, for all practicable purposes and simplicity I prefer
the shape at Fig. F.
Fig. 1 is the marker folded and in position with the cover of a book shewn in
section at a.
The slight presure required to keep it in position is obtained by the spring
action at b.
Rubber caps, bands or buttons may be used for the same purpose and, to avoid
friction on the parts coming in contact with the outside of cover.

page_text: Fig. 2. represents the marker open and in action, the slight pressure of the
spring, H, working freely in a groove or channel, combined with the revolving bar,
cause the leaves to be easily and safely turned over without difficulty or injury,
although the drawing shews a finger and thumb action in turning over a leaf, any
other way that sujjests itself to the intellegence of the user will accomplish the
same purpose.
This Fig. 2 shews the marker in position rather than the accuracy of the parts
of which it is composed.
I will now describe the arrangement of the various pieces composing the
complete marker and the construction of same as shewn in Figures 1. and 2.
The marker is composed altogether of ten seperate parts or pieces, its working
parts connected together by the rivets as shewn at D, and the small connecting
bar I. The various parts are pressed and cut out of thin brass, the controlling
action is obtained by the spring H.
The thin strip of brass shewn at A is folded so that the two circular marks a, a
are exactly opposite each other as shewn at a. a. in a 1.
The circular mark a. in Fig. B is also placed in position opposite the above as
seen at a in Fig. b.
Fig. C is folded as at c1 the projecting tongue is folded back on itself so as to
form a base for fixing the spring H, the two small tongues on each side are also
folded back to take the small bar I, connecting the working parts c and g
together.
Fig. 1 is then placed in position on the upper part at Fig. a 1 the circular
mark a, being placed directly in line of a. a. a. the whole connected together by
the largest rivet at D.
Fig. E is folded as at e to take the bar F. The circular marks a, in Figs. E are
connected together by the small rivet D.
Fig. G is folded in shape as shewn at the square part at G is folded over and
forms a groove or channel as seen at g in Fig. 9. through which the spring H slides
as seen at h in Fig. g. Figs. J. K. L are fully described in a former paragraph of
this Specification as an alternative bar to the one shewn at F.
Fig. 2 shewing the various parts in detail.
F revolving bar.
9 revolving bar lever.
H. H spring.
"
"
e revolving bar socket.
"
"
,,
g 1. channel for spring.
"
"
a 1. cover slip.
"
""
cl spring holder, hinge joint and folder.
D. D. rivets at folding joints, angle action.
I hinge joint pin.
Fig. 1. a 1 metal block through which the larger rivet passes, on cover holder.
No. 2 Sheet is an additional sheet of drawings filed with the Complete
Specification.
Fig. 3 the letters corresponding to those on Fig. 2 the details enlarged, described
in the preceeding paragraph.
Fig. 4 section of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 shewing tube bar L.
Fig. 6 el shewing a sliding action thereby enabling the bar lever, g, to be
lengthened, e 2 one method of fixing the rubber cap, button or band if
required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
First. An automatic book marker. requiring no aid from the user, beyond first

page_text: Second. Instantly affixed may be used in various positions, with equal efficiency
reversable in action.
Third. Does away with the practice of doubling or in any way disfiguring the
leaves.
Fourth. The marker is valuable for readers and students who from many causes
fail to place an ordinary marker in position. The invention automatically adjusting
itself to every thickness of the book.
Fifth. Adapted for all classes of books whether literary, mucical, commercial, or
ordinary business purposes, and after using may be easily and quickly slipped off,
folded and carried in the smallest pocket or otherwise.
Dated this 18th day of September 1893.
SAMUEL HOWE,
Applicant.