ES2373157B1 - PAGE MARKER FOR BOOKS, NOTEBOOKS AND SIMILAR. - Google Patents

Abstract

Page marker for books, notebooks and the like. # The page marker is made of flexible sheet material and comprises a marker element (1) insertable on a current page (51) of a book or the like (50), a fixing element (4) to be placed between two sheets of the book or similar (50) further back from the current page (51), and a connecting arm (5) connecting the marker element (1) with the fixing element (4) by above the upper edges of the sheets of the book or similar (50). The marker element (1) comprises a weakened line (6) defining a flexion axis (E1) substantially parallel to the upper edges of the sheets to facilitate a spontaneous jump of the marker element (1) to the next page by flexion of the marker element (1) around the first axis of flexion (E1) and by flexion and / or torsion of the connecting arm (5) when the current page (51) is rotated.

Description

dor by fl exion and torsion of the connecting arm.

Page marker for books, notebooks and the like. Technical field

The present invention concerns a bookmark for books, notebooks and the like, including a device for automatically jumping to the next page when the sheet including the current page is rotated. Background of the invention

Patent DE-A-2931263 discloses an automatic bookmark for books, which in some embodiments may be formed from a single piece of sheet material, such as plastic sheet, sheet metal or cardboard. This page marker comprises a marker element in the form of a tab configured to be inserted between two sheets comprising a current page to be pointed out of a book, a clip-shaped fixing element to be attached to the upper edge of a page further back than the current page, and a flexible connection arm with one end connected to the marker element and another end connected to the fixing element above the upper edges of the book sheets. The marker element jumps spontaneously to the next page by flexion and / or twisting of the connecting arm when the sheet containing the current page is rotated. However, this page marker has several drawbacks related to the excessive rigidity of the connecting arm, the poor stability provided by the clip-shaped fixing element, the difficulty of manufacturing, handling and transport due to multiple projecting parts, with risk of damage to the connecting arm, and the low availability of wide and clear surfaces that can be used as support for graphic and textual information.

EP-A-0816121 describes a page marker for books, notebooks and the like, made of a single piece of sheet material, which is formed from three elements. A marker element comprising a lower tab configured to be inserted between two sheets comprising a current page to be pointed out of a book, notebook or the like, and an upper portion protruding from said current page, a fi xed setting element to be placed between two sheets further back from said current page or between the last sheet and a back cover of the book, notebook or the like, and a flexible connecting arm with one end connected to the marker element and another end connected to said fixing element above the upper edges of the sheets of the book, notebook or similar. From a lateral edge of said fixing element opposite to said marker element there is an abutment configuration located approximately at the level of a lower edge of the connecting arm allowing the positioning of the page marker relative to a spine of the book, notebook or the like. The marker element does not protrude from a side edge of the fixing element adjacent thereto, and between the marker element and / or the connecting arm and an upper edge of the fixing element there are one or more attachment points that protect the marker element and the connecting arm during transport and handling, and they must be broken for the use of the page marker. This allows to make a relatively long and thin connecting arm

A disadvantage of the page marker of the aforementioned patent EP-A-0816121 is that, once the mentioned attachment points are broken, the arm is excessively weak and can be easily damaged during use. In addition, in order to obtain a sufficiently long connecting arm without the marker element protruding from the fixing element, the fixing element has a significantly wider width than traditional non-automatic page markers, and this, together with the need Breaking the junction points makes the user difficult to understand the usefulness and functioning of the page marker. On the other hand, the thinness of the connecting arm greatly reduces the surface available as a support for graphic and / or textual information, also taking into account that the surface of the connecting arm is one that remains visible during use, even With the book closed. Exhibition of the invention

The present invention contributes to overcoming the above and other inconveniences by providing a bookmark for books, notebooks and the like, of the type that is made of a piece of flexible sheet material, such as plastic sheet, plasticized paper, light cardboard, etc. , and comprises a marker element, a fixing element and a connecting arm connecting said marker element to said fixing element. The bookmark element has a lower tab configured to be inserted between two sheets comprising a current page to be pointed out of a book, notebook or the like, and an upper portion that protrudes from said current page. The fixing element is configured to be placed between two sheets behind said current page or between the last sheet and a back cover of said book, notebook or the like. From a lateral edge of said fixing element opposite to said marker element there is an abutment configuration having a lower edge approximately at the level of a lower edge of said connecting arm to position the page marker relative to a book spine, notebook or similar. The connecting arm has one end connected to the marker element and another end connected to said fixing element and is located above the upper edges of the sheets of the book, notebook or the like, to facilitate a spontaneous jump of the marker element above the sheet to the next page by flexion and / or twisting of said connecting arm when the sheet containing the current page is rotated. The page marker of the present invention is characterized in that the bookmark element comprises a weakened line that de fi ne a first axis of flexion substantially parallel to the upper edges of the sheets of the book, notebook or the like and above them, which allows that the marker element bends around said first axis of reflection when the marker element jumps to the next page.

The fact that the marker element is capable of flexing during the page break decreases the degree of flexion and torsion necessary for the connecting arm, so that it can be significantly shorter and wider in comparison. with prior art page markers. A shorter and wider connecting arm has the advantage of being stronger and providing greater strength to the assembly, obviating the need to include attachment points between the marker element and an upper edge of the fixing element and / or between the arm of connection and the upper edge of the fixing element. In addition, a wider connecting arm provides wide and clear front and rear surfaces suitable for use as a support for graphic and / or textual information. A shorter connecting arm allows the width of the fixing element to be similar to that of a traditional non-automatic page marker, which combined with the absence of junction points that need to be broken allow the user to more easily understand the utility and how the bookmark works.

The piece of flexible sheet material that forms the page marker of the present invention can be obtained by a die-cutting operation from a sheet previously printed on one side or both sides. In one embodiment, the weakened line defined by said first axis of fl exion in the marker element may be formed by a succession of small separate cuts or semicircles aligned, by a creasing line, or by a combination of aligned cuts or semicircles and creases. . Optionally, the weakened line is curved, that is, it has a curvature, and preferably said curvature is convex towards the top. When the marker element flexes around the weakened line, which acts as a hinge, the surrounding sheet material is forced to deform reversibly away from the initial flat condition, thus creating a recovery torque that opposes the torque of forces applied by the connecting arm and the top edge of the book sheet, notebook

or similar, and that allows to recover the initial flat condition once the blade is turned without experiencing permanent deformation. The curvature of the weakened line is intended to offer greater resistance to fl exion and a recovery torque than would be obtained through a straight weakened line.

In an alternative embodiment, the weakened line in the marker element is formed by a rectilinear cut terminated at its ends by two small cross-sections thereof and separated from inner and outer edges of the marker element. In this case, the fl exion of the marker element is produced by the inflection of two small strips of sheet material that each said small transverse cuts are defined between the corresponding inner and outer edge of the marker element. In either of the two described embodiments, the weakened line is located above a lower edge of the connecting arm, and the inner edge of the marker element extends in a cut that extends from said lower edge of the connecting arm and penetrates inside the connecting arm to approximately the level of the weakened line. This cut further facilitates the flexion of the marker element around the weakened line even with a relatively wide connecting arm. Thus, in the page marker of the present invention, the page break of the marker element is produced by fl exction of the marker element in combination with a fl extion and / or twisting of the connecting arm, unlike the page markers of the technique above, where the page break of the marker element occurs only by flexion and / or twisting of the connecting arm.

Optionally, and especially when the connecting arm is short and wide, the connecting arm also comprises a weakened line that de fi ne a second axis of flexion substantially perpendicular to the upper edges of the book, notebook sheets

or similar. This weakened line is at said end of the connecting arm connected to or near the fixing element. In one embodiment, the weakened line of the connecting arm is formed by cuts, semi-cuts and / or creases aligned in a manner analogous to that described above in relation to the weakened line of the marker element, and optionally can be curved or have a curvature, preferably convex towards the opposite side of the marker element. The weakened line acts as a hinge and its curvature has the mission of offering resistance to rotation, since an ideal axis of rotation is a straight line. Even so, the connecting arm can rotate on said hinge at the cost of deforming or bending the sheet material in the environment close to the hinge. The own recovery force of the sheet material that tends to return it to a flat condition is transmitted to the hinge and to the connecting arm generating a recovery force that tends to return the connecting arm to its flat condition with the rest of the page marker .

In another embodiment, the weakened line of the connecting arm is formed by a rectilinear cut terminated at its ends by two small transverse cuts thereto and separated from upper and lower edges of the connecting arm. In this case, the flexibility of the connecting arm is produced by the flexion of the two small strips of sheet material defined by each of said transverse cuts and the corresponding upper and lower edge of the connecting arm. In either of the two described embodiments, the capacity of fl exion and torsion of the connecting arm can be increased by a cut substantially perpendicular to the upper edges of the sheets of the book, notebook or the like and extending from the end of the connecting arm connected to the fixing element and penetrating into the fixing element a predetermined distance.

The degree of curvature and / or the length of the cuts on the weakened lines provided by the hinges on the marker element and on the connecting arm can be selected to adjust the desired flexibility to the degree of flexibility and thickness of virtually any sheet material, thus facilitating the use of diverse materials. Thus, in the page marker of the present invention the degree of stiffness and / or fl exibility is not decisive, so instead of using an unusual sheet material with a specific degree of stiffness and thickness, necessary in the markers of In the prior art page, a standard and easily printable sheet material can be used with conventional printing machines, which results in lower production costs.

The fixing element has a side edge opposite the marker element and a side edge adjacent to the marker element. Although it is not essential due to the great robustness conferred on the connecting arm due to its short and wide configuration, preferably the marker element does not protrude from said lateral edge of the fixing element adjacent to the marker element. Optionally, the page marker of the present invention may include an additional sheet material element useful as a support for additional graphic and / or textual information. In one embodiment, said additional element is connected by a fold line to said side edge of the fixing element opposite the marker element. In another embodiment, the additional element is connected by a fold line to the side edge of the fixing element adjacent to the marker element. In any case, the additional element can be folded by said fold line and superimposed on a rear face of the assembly formed by the marker element, the fixing element and the connecting arm so that the additional element does not interfere in the operation of the bookmark Preferably, no portion of the marker element, the fixing element or the connecting arm protrudes from the additional element when they are superimposed thereon except a part of the upper portion of the marker element protruding from an upper edge of said additional element to facilitate separation marker element manual if desired. Thus, the marker element, the fixing element, the connecting arm and the additional element have on both sides clear surfaces usable as support for graphic and / or textual information.

Brief description of the drawings

The foregoing and other features and advantages will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of some embodiments with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a bookmark for books, notebooks and the like according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of a bookmark for books, notebooks and the like according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a partial perspective view of the page marker of Fig. 1 illustrating the operation thereof;

Fig. 4 is a partial perspective view of the page marker of Fig. 1 applied to a book, notebook or the like;

Fig. 5 is a side view of a bookmark for books, notebooks and the like according to a third embodiment of the present invention including an additional element;

Fig. 6 is a partial perspective view of the page marker of Fig. 5 illustrating the operation thereof;

Fig. 7 is a side view of a bookmark for books, notebooks and the like according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention including an additional element; Y

Fig. 8 is a partial perspective view of the page marker of Fig. 7 illustrating the operation thereof. Detailed description of some embodiments

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the bookmark for books, notebooks and the like is made, in accordance with first and second embodiments of the present invention, from a single piece of a flexible sheet material obtained, for example, by die-cutting. The page marker comprises a marker element 1, a fixing element 4 and a connecting arm 5 that connects said marker element 1 to said fixing element 4. The marker element 1 has a lower tab 2 configured to be inserted between two sheets of a book , notebook or the like 50 to indicate a current page 51, and an upper portion 3 protruding from said current page 51. The fixing element 4 is configured to be placed between two sheets of said book, notebook or the like 50 further back from the current page 51, or between the last sheet and a back cover 52 of the book, notebook or the like 50. The said connecting arm 5 has one end connected to the marker element 1 and another end connected to the fixing element 4. From a side edge of the fixing element 4 opposite to the marker element 1, there is an abutment configuration 12 having a lower edge located approximately at the same level as a b lower order of the connecting arm 5, and which serves to position the page marker with respect to a spine 53 of the book, notebook or the like 50 so that the connecting arm is above the upper edges of the sheets of the book, notebook

or similar 50 (see Fig. 4).

The marker element 1 and the connection spleen 5 are separated from the fixing element 4 by cutting lines formed in the piece of flexible sheet material. The marker element 1 comprises a weakened line 6 that de fi ne a first axis of the flexion E1 (see Fig. 3) substantially parallel to the upper edges of the sheets of the book, notebook or the like 50 and located above them. This weakened line 6 acts as a hinge, so that when the sheet containing the current page 51 is rotated, a spontaneous jump of the marker element 1 to the next page occurs due to the reflection of the marker element 1 around said first axis of flexion E1 in combination with a flexion and / or twist of said connecting arm 5.

In the first embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the weakened line 6 is formed by a split line, by a succession of separate and aligned cuts or semi-cuts, or by a combination of aligned cuts or semi-cuts. In addition, the weakened line 6 is curved, and has a convex curvature towards the upper part, although alternatively the weakened line 6 could be rectilinear or have a convex curvature towards the lower part. The curvature of the weakened line 6 provides a greater resistance to flexion than that of a straight weakened line and a recovery torque that tends to return the marker element to the initial flat condition.

In the second embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the weakened line 6 is formed by a rectilinear cut terminated at its ends by two small cuts 7 transverse thereto and separated from inner and outer edges of the marker element 1. In this case , the lower tongue 2 of the marker element 1 is connected to the upper position 3 by narrow strips of defined flexible sheet material between the transverse cuts 7 and the corresponding lateral edges of the marker element 1, and the reflection of the marker element 1 is produced by a fl exction of the aforementioned strips around an axis of fl exion substantially parallel to the upper edges of the sheets of the book, notebook or the like 50, analogous to the first axis of fl exion E1 described in relation to the first embodiment and shown in Fig. 3 .

In both first and second embodiments, the weakened line 6 is located at a level above a lower edge of the connecting arm 5, and the marker element 1 has an inner edge that extends into a cut 8 that extends from said edge lower of the connection arm 5 to approximately the level of the weakened line 6. This cut 8 facilitates the fl exion of the marker element 1 around the first axis of flexion E1 provided by the weakened line 6 even when the connection arm 5 is relatively wide.

Although not essential, in both first and second embodiments shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the connecting arm 5 also comprises a weakened line 9 that define a second axis of flexion E2 substantially perpendicular to the upper edges of the sheets of the book, notebook or the like 50 (see Fig. 3) located at the end of the connecting arm 5 connected to the fixing element 4, or near it. This weakened line 9 acts on a hinge that facilitates a rotation of the connection spleen 5 around said second axis of flexion E2 thus increasing the flexibility of the connection arm 5 even when it is relatively short and wide, as illustrated.

In the first embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the weakened line 9 in the connecting arm 5 is formed by cuts or semi-cuts and / or grooves aligned following a convex curvature towards the opposite part of the marker element 1, in a manner analogous to the one described above in relation to the weakened line 6 in the marker element 1. The weakened line 9 with a curvature provides greater resistance to flexion and recovery torque than those provided by a straight weakened line. However, the weakened line 9 may alternatively be straight or curved convex towards the part adjacent to the marker element 1.

In the second embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the weakened line 9 is formed by a rectilinear cut terminated at its ends by two small cuts 10 transverse thereto and separated from upper and lower edges of the connecting arm 5. In this In this case, the fl exction of the connecting arm 5 is produced by a fl exction of narrow strips of de fi ned flexible sheet material between said cuts 10 and the corresponding upper and lower edges of the connecting arm 5 around a fl exion axis substantially perpendicular to the edges upper pages of the book, notebook or the like 50, analogous to the second axis of flexion E2 described in relation to the first embodiment and shown in Fig. 3.

In both first and second embodiments, from the end of the connecting arm 5 connected to the fixing element 4 a cut 11 extends substantially perpendicular to the upper edges of the sheets of the book, notebook or the like 50 and penetrates into the element setting 4 to a predetermined length. This cut 11 further facilitates the flexion and torsion of the connecting arm 5 even when this is a short and wide connecting arm. In addition, the fixing element 4 has a side edge 4a opposite the marker element 1 and a side edge 4b, opposite, adjacent to the marker element 1. Preferably, the marker element 1 does not protrude from said lateral edge 4b of the adjacent fixing element 4 to the marker element 1. Thus, the page marker of the present invention has a width similar to the width of traditional non-automatic page markers consisting of a simple rectangular piece of sheet material. Furthermore, the page marker of the present invention, including the marker element 1, the fixing element 4 and the connecting arm 5, offers on its two faces clear surfaces usable as support for graphic or textual information, which is advantageous taking into account that the connection arm 5 and the marker element 1 will be visible for as long as the book, notebook or the like 50 is opened by the current page 51 and that the connection arm 5 will also be visible even when the book, Notebook or similar 50 is closed.

In relation to Figs. 5 and 6, a bookmark for books, notebooks and the like according to a third embodiment of the present invention is described. The page marker of this third embodiment is made of a piece of flexible sheet material and has a marker element 1, a fixing element 4 and a connecting arm 5 of characteristics analogous to those of the page marker of the first embodiment. The difference is that, here, said side edge 4a of the fixing element 4 opposite the marker element 1 is connected by a fold line 13 to an additional element 14 having a side edge 14a opposite the side edge 4a, a lower edge 14b aligned with a lower edge 4c of the fixing element 4 and an upper edge 14c aligned with an upper edge 5a of the connecting arm 5. The additional element 14 further comprises a cutout 17 around the stop configuration 12. Thus, the additional element can be folded by said fold line 13 (Fig. 6) and superimposed on a rear face of the assembly formed by the marker element 1, the fixing element 4 and the connecting arm 5, with said side edge 14a, bottom edge 14b and edge upper 14c of the additional element 14a superimposed on the lateral edges 4b and lower 4c of the fixing element 4 and the upper edge 5a of the connecting arm 5, respectively, so that s Only a part of the upper portion 3 of the marker element 1 protrudes from the upper edge of the additional element 14.

In Figs. 7 and 8 shows a fourth embodiment of the page marker of the present invention, which is made of a piece of flexible sheet material and has a marker element 1, a fixing element 4 and a connecting arm 5 of analogous characteristics to those of the page marker of the first embodiment. Here the difference is that the lateral edge 4b of the fixing element 4 adjacent to the marker element 1 is connected by a fold line 15 to an additional element 16 that can be folded by said fold line 15 and superimposed on a rear face of the assembly formed by the marker element 1, the fixing element 4 and the connecting arm 5. In a folded position, a lateral edge 16a of the additional element 16 is superimposed on the lateral edge 4a of the fixing element 4, a lower edge 16b of the additional element 16 it is superimposed on a lower edge 4c of the fixing element 4, and an upper edge 16c of the additional element 16 is superimposed on the upper edge 5a of the connecting arm 5, so that only a part of the upper portion 3 of the marker element 1 protrudes of the upper edge of the additional element 16.

The page marker of both third and fourth embodiments is in the form of a diptych made of a piece of flexible sheet material obtained, for example, by die-cutting of a previously printed sheet. In the page marker in the form of a diptych, the marker element 1, the fixing element 4, the connecting arm 5 and the additional element 14, 16 have clear surfaces very suitable for use as a support for graphic information and / or textual. Furthermore, once the page marker in the form of a diptych is folded and in an operative situation, the additional element 14, 16 does not interfere in the operation of the marker element 1 and the connecting arm 4 as a page marker, which maintain the same advantages that in the simple page marker as described above in relation to the first and second embodiments.

It will be understood that in the third and fourth embodiments shown in Figs. 5 to 8, the weakened line 6 of the marker element 1 and the weakened line 9 of the connecting arm 5 could respectively be as the weakened line 6 and the weakened line 9 of the second embodiment described in relation to Fig. 2 instead of be like the weakened lines 6, 9 of the first embodiment described in relation to Figs. 1, 3 and 4. It will also be understood that it is possible to combine a weakened line in the same page marker according to the first embodiment with another weakened line according to the second embodiment.

One skilled in the art will be able to effect modifications and variations from the embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (17)

1. Page marker for books, notebooks and the like, of the type that is made of a piece of flexible sheet material and comprises: a marker element (1) with a lower tab (2) configured to be inserted between two sheets comprising a current page (51) to be pointed out of a book, notebook or the like (50), and an upper portion (3) protruding from said current page (51); a setting element (4) configured to be placed between two sheets behind said current page (51) or between the last sheet and a back cover (52) of said book, notebook or the like (50), with a configuration of stop (12) of a side edge of said fixing element (4) opposite said marker element (1) approximately at the level of a lower edge of said connecting arm (5) to position the page marker relative to a spine ( 53) of the book, notebook or similar (50); Y a connecting arm (5) with one end connected to the marker element (1) and another end connected to said fixing element (4) above the upper edges of the sheets of the book, notebook or the like (50), to facilitate a spontaneous jump of the marker element (1) to the next page by flexion and / or twisting of said connecting arm (5) when the sheet containing the current page (51) is rotated, characterized in that the marker element (1) comprises a weakened line (6) that define a first axis of fl exion (E1) substantially parallel to the upper edges of the sheets of the book, notebook or the like (50) and above them, whereby the marker element (1) is flexed around said first axis of fl exion (E1) when the marker element (1) jumps to the next page. 2. Page marker according to claim 1, characterized in that said weakened line (6) It is formed by aligned cuts and / or creases. 3. Page marker according to claim 2, characterized in that said weakened line (6) has a curvature.

Four.

Page marker, according to claim 2, characterized in that said curvature of the weakened line (6) is convex towards the top.

5.

Page marker according to claim 1, characterized in that said weakened line

(6) It is formed by a rectilinear cut terminated at its ends by two small cuts (7) transverse to it and separated from inner and outer edges of the marker element (1).

6.

Page marker, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the weakened line (6) is located above a lower edge of the connecting arm (5), and an inner edge of the marker element (1) is extended in a cut (8) extending from said lower edge of the connecting arm (5) to approximately the level of the weakened line (6).

7.

Page marker according to claim 1, characterized in that said connecting arm (5) comprises a weakened line (9) that de fi ne a second axis of flexion (E2) substantially

perpendicular to the upper edges of the sheets of the book, notebook or the like (50) at or near said end connected to the fixing element (4). 8. Page marker according to claim 7, characterized in that said weakened line (9) It is formed by aligned cuts and / or creases. 9. Page marker according to claim 8, characterized in that said weakened line (9) has a curvature.

10.

Page marker, according to claim 8, characterized in that said curvature of the weakened line (9) is convex towards the opposite part of the marker element (1).

eleven.

Page marker, according to claim 7, characterized in that said weakened line (9) is formed by a rectilinear cut terminated at its ends by two small cuts (10) transverse thereto and separated from upper and lower arm edges connection (5).

12.

Page marker, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a cut (11) substantially perpendicular to the upper edges of the sheets of the book, notebook or the like (50) extends from the end of the connecting arm (5). ) connected to the fixing element (4) into the fixing element (4).

13.

Page marker, according to claim 1, characterized in that the fixing element (4) has a side edge opposite the marker element (1) and a side edge adjacent to the marker element (1), and the marker element does not protrude from said lateral edge of the fixing element (4) adjacent to the marker element (1).

14.

Page marker according to claim 1, characterized in that said side edge of the fixing element (4) opposite the marker element (1) is connected by a fold line

(13) to an additional element (14) that can be folded by said fold line (13) and superimposed on a rear face of the assembly formed by the marker element (1), the fixing element (4) and the arm of connection (5), where at least part of said upper portion (3) of the marker element (1) protrudes from an upper edge of said additional element (14). 15. Page marker according to claim 1, characterized in that said lateral edge of the fixing element (4) adjacent to the marker element (1) is connected by a fold line (15) to an additional element (16) that can be folded by said fold line (15) and superimposed on a rear face of the assembly formed by the marker element (1), the fixing element (4) and the arm of connection (5), where at least part of said upper portion (3) of the marker element (1) protrudes from an upper edge of said additional element (16). 16. Page marker according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the marker element (1), the fixing element (4), the connecting arm (5) and the additional element (14, 16) have cleared surfaces usable as support for graphic and / or textual information. SPANISH OFFICE OF THE PATENTS AND BRAND Application no .: 201000626 SPAIN Date of submission of the application: 14.05.2010 Priority Date: REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE 51 Int. Cl.: B42D9 / 00 (2006.01) B42D3 / 14 (2006.01) RELEVANT DOCUMENTS

Category

56 Documents cited Claims Affected

TO

WO 9718955 A1 (MESTRES ARMENGOL FERNANDO et al.) 29.05.1997, the whole document. 1,9,15-19

TO

WO 2006021795 A2 (EIP LTD et al.) 02.03.2006, description; Figures 1-16. 1.16.20

TO

US 2778331 A (SOLIS BONILLA SAMUEL RODOLFO) 22.01.1957, the whole document. 1.16.19

TO

GB 190307312 A (MALLETT ALBERT CHARLES WILLIAM) 11.06.1903, the whole document. 1.16.20

Category of the documents cited X: of particular relevance Y: of particular relevance combined with other / s of the same category A: reflects the state of the art O: refers to unwritten disclosure P: published between the priority date and the date of priority submission of the application E: previous document, but published after the date of submission of the application

This report has been prepared • for all claims • for claims no:

Date of realization of the report 18.01.2012

Examiner A. Sickles Ten Page 1/4

REPORT OF THE STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE Application number: 201000626 Minimum documentation sought (classification system followed by classification symbols) B42D Electronic databases consulted during the search (name of the database and, if possible, terms of search used) INVENES, EPODOC State of the Art Report Page 2/4  WRITTEN OPINION Application number: 201000626 Date of Written Opinion: 18.01.2012 Statement

Novelty (Art. 6.1 LP 11/1986)

Claims Claims 1-20 IF NOT

Inventive activity (Art. 8.1 LP11 / 1986)

Claims Claims 1-20 IF NOT

The application is considered to comply with the industrial application requirement. This requirement was evaluated during the formal and technical examination phase of the application (Article 31.2 Law 11/1986).  Opinion Base.- This opinion has been made on the basis of the patent application as published. State of the Art Report Page 3/4  WRITTEN OPINION Application number: 201000626 1. Documents considered.- The documents belonging to the state of the art taken into consideration for the realization of this opinion are listed below.

Document

Publication or Identification Number publication date

D01

WO 9718955 A1 (MESTRES ARMENGOL FERNANDO et al.) 05/29/1997

2. Statement motivated according to articles 29.6 and 29.7 of the Regulations for the execution of Law 11/1986, of March 20, on Patents on novelty and inventive activity; quotes and explanations in support of this statement Document D01, which can be considered to represent the state of the art closest to the object of claim 1 and to which the following reference numerals belong, discloses a page marker for books, agendas and the like, of the type that is made of a piece of flexible sheet material comprising: a marker element (1) with a lower tab configured to be inserted between two sheets, one of them comprising a current page to be pointed out of a book, agenda or the like (10), and a portion top (4) that in position of use protrudes from said page; a fixing element (2) configured to be placed in one of the covers, sheets or spine of said book, agenda or the like (10), a top configuration (9) of a lateral edge of said fixing element (2) standing out ) opposite to said bookmark element (1) to position the bookmark with respect to a spine of the book, agenda or the like (10); and a connecting arm (3) with one end connected to the marker element (1) and another end connected to said fixing element (2), said connecting arm (3) being in use position above the upper edges of the sheets of the book, agenda or the like (10), to facilitate a spontaneous jump of the marker element (1) to the next page by bending and / or twisting of said connecting arm (3) when the sheet containing the current page is turned. This page marker, unlike the one described in the application, does not have a weakened line in its marker element and / or in its connection arm that facilitates the flexion of the lower tongue of the marker element and / or the twist of the connection arm around a first flexure axis (E1) substantially parallel to a longitudinal direction of the connecting arm. None of the documents cited in the State of the Art Report, taken alone or in combination, reveal the technical characteristics defined in independent claim 1. Therefore, the documents cited only reflect the state of the art and, consequently, Claim 1 is new and involves inventive activity (Art. 6.1 and 8.1 LP 11/1986). With respect to claims 2 to 20, these are dependent on claim 1 and, consequently, also meet the requirements of Law 11/86 with respect to novelty and inventive activity. State of the Art Report Page 4/4