GB2068839A - An index for names or words in books - Google Patents

Abstract

A word index device in a book which contains words arranged in a predetermined order, comprising for each group of pages containing words having a common first letter a key table (4) listing the headwords (2) of the pages of the group, with the first letter of each word being in a first column (5) and the nth letter in an nth column, said key table (4) being inserted or printed before or after the group of pages in the book, and a page marking (11) being provided at the edge of each page of the group corresponding to the headword (2) of the page in the key table (4) and said marking (11) being parallel with the line of the page headword (2) in the table (4). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An index for words or names in books This invention concerns an index to enable a person to search accurately and swiftly for a desired word in a book, such as a dictionary, encyclopaedia, vocabulary, dictionary of personal names, telephone directory, etc. which contains many words, terms, names, etc. arranged in a predetermined order such as alphabetically.

In a known dictionary a black mark is printed on the edge of those pages containing words which have a common first letter, for example the letter "A", or a notch is provided or a letter "A" is printed on the side section of the book so that the pages containing words which have the same first letter as the desired word can be determined easily. In such a dictionary, however, it may be easy to find a group of pages which contains the words which have the letter "A" as their common first letter, but it is troublesome to find the desired page within the group of pages.

In order to find the desired page in such a dictionary, a person has to compare the desired word with the first headword and the last headword in each page, and if the word is not found between the headwords, the person must leaf the pages, back and forth, repeatedly, guessing from the order of letters arranged, which is a rather complicated job requiring constant attention. Even if the dictionary is opened at a page containing a similar word, it is still difficult to guess how many preceding or following pages must be turned before the page containing the desired word can be found.

According to the present invention there is provided a word index device in a book which contains many words arranged in a predetermined order, comprising for each group of pages containing words having a common first letter key table listing the headwords of the pages of said group of pages in the order ofpagewiththe first letter of each word being in a first column and the nth letter being in an nth column, said key table being located before or after said group of pages in the book, and a page marking being provided at the edge of each page of the group corresponding to the headword of the page in the key table, said marking being parallel with the line of the page headword in the table.

Some embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows the basic key table, Figures 2 and 3 the key tables in abbreviated form, Figure 4 the marks on the side section of a dictionary, Figure 5 the key table and marking provided on the side section of an English dictionary, Figure 6 another example of marking, and Figure 7 a supplementary key table.

Fig. 1 shows one example of the basic key table 1 for a dictionary. The basic key table 1 lists the headwords 2 such as "a", ''abbey'', "abjure" . . in the order of the pages in which they appear in the pages of the dictionary. The basic key table 1 of Fig. 1 lists a group of words which have the letter "a" as their common first letter, and for each group of words which have another letter as their common first letter, another basic key table 1 shall be prepared separately.

In Fig. 1, the headwords 2 are so arranged that the first letters (in this case the common first letter "a") are in line vertically, the horizontally "n' 'th letters are in the "n' 'th row, and the "m" page corresponds with the "m"th line (vertically). By this basic key table 1 the page containing the desired word can be easily determined. If "abduct" is the work to be searched for, it will be known that the word lies between "abbey" and "abjure", and if there is some mark provided on the side section of the book in the position corresponding to that of "abbey", the book can be easily opened at that page.

This basic key table 1 provides sufficient access for easy searching, but this invention provides easier access by means of the key table as shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 which are converted from the basic key table 1.

This means that the basic key table has many kinds of embodiment possibilities, and the key table 4 shown in Fig. 2 is only one example of them where the doubling letters are omitted, and instead, a division containing one common letter is shown for much easier searching.

The key table 4 shown in Fig. 2 shall be prepared as follows.

The common first letter "a" of the basic key table 1 is written in the first column 5 where only the first letter is entered even if there are two or more letters "a".

Then, in the further columns 6a, 6b, 6n, the common second letters (b), (c), shall be entered.

Similarly, the common third letter shall be written in the third column, and the common nth letter in the nth column. This key table 4 shall be used for page retrieval in combination with the mechanical retrieval means to be described latter.

Each headword can be reduced to the minimum number of letters, e.g. if the last word of the preceding page of "achromatic" is "achilles", "achr" is enough for the headword. Furthermore, since one sheet of a dictionary consists of two pages (two pages are turned at once) and it is not so difficult to find a word whether it is in the right hand page or the left hand page, the headword either in the odd number or the even number of pages can be omitted or put out by chaning the position, colour tone, type size, and number of letters.

Also, for a word which has a long suffix, it is advisable to look back along the suffix, and the word can be cut to a suitable length and a mark can be added to indicate that the preceding page should be opened if the desired word corresponds with the word, thus simplifying the key table 4 for easier consulting.

The key table 4a shown in Fig. 3 is such an example of an embodiment which is substantially the same as the key table of Fig. 2 except that it uses oblique lines as a mark 8 to indicate that the preceding page should be opened and horizontal lines as a mark 9 for cutting the suffix.

In the above key tables 4 and 4a, the number of page can be provided in parallel with the headword. For example, if the word "abduct" is the word to be looked up, attention should be paid to the third letter "d", and since this "d" should be after "b" but before "j", it is known that it is between the headwords "abbey" and "abjure" and that the page is within the pages indicated in parallel with "abbey".

However, it is still troublesome to leaft many pages to find this page.

Therefore, it is one of the important points of this invention that the desired page can be opened mechanically not depending on the page number.

Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 show the examples where not only the key tables 4 and 4a of this invention are used but also mechanical retrieval means are provided on the book.

In this case, the key table 4 or 4a is inserted or printed before or after the group of words which have the letter "a" as their common first letter, and a label 10 indicating the "A" letter group is attached to the top of the page so that the page containing the "A" letter group key table 4 can easily be opened.

Aiso, a mark 11 is printed on the side section 1 2 at the edge of the page which contains each headword 2 on the same line and parallel with the headword 2, and if the page of the desired word is known from the key table 4 or 4a as described above, and the parallel line is followed to the mark 11 where the page is opened, the page containing the desired word can be easily found in one motion.

The above marking 11 can be provided in other ways as by a number, letter notch, projected piece and magnetic marker.

In other words, instead of this mark 11, page number or letter can be printed, a notch from the key table 4 or 4a to the corresponding page can be provided or a projected piece indicating the page can be attached so that the desired page can be opened in one motion.

It is easy enough to find the desired page by means of the black mark 11 provided on the side section of the book as described above, it may sometimes happen that the mark 11 cannot be easily seen because of deviation due to printing. In such case black and white marking 11 a and 11 b do not overlap and the pages can be easily and accurately turned.

In the case where the pages of a dictionary are divided into several columns, a supplementary key table similar to the key table 4 or 4a can be provided on a page either of the odd number or even number, i.e. when the desired page is opened by means of the key table, this supplementary key table can be used to determine whether the desired word is in the od number page or even number of pages and in which column of the left or right page.

Fig. 7 is one example of such supplementary table 1 7 for a page which consists of two columns. This supplementary table 1 7 lists the words 1 8 representing each column with the first word of the following page in the last and the marks 20 indicating each column ahead of each word.

Since the page containing a desired word can be easily known by the combination of the key table 4 or 4a and the mechanical retrieval means of this invention, the searching job is considerably eased as follows, i.e.

the differences between the conventional method and that of this invention shall be clearly recognised from the following table.

A) Conventional Method In comparing a desired word with headwords, it was necessary to check from the first word to the last for each page to see to which letter they are same and from which letter they differ.

B) Method of This Invention All can be known on the table and no need of leafing pages.

A) For comparing it is necessary to memorise the headword of the preceding page.

B) Since the headwords are so arranged that the difference can be seen at one glance.

there is no need of memorising.

A) It was a rather complicated comparison job where it was necessary to turn pages before the right page is found.

B) A desired page can be opened in one motion when the key table is consulted, and furthermore, a location can be guessed.

A) There were two ways of opening pages: 1) a sure but troublesome way of opening pages one by one and 2) a trial and error method of guessing and opening and further turning pages back and forth comparing with headwords.

B) Once the line is obtained on the key table, the right page can be securely opened at once by means of the page mark indicated in the corresponding position.

Claims (6)

1. A word index device in a book which contains many words arranged in a predetermined order, comprising for each group of pages containing words having a common first letter a key table listing the headwords of the pages of said group of pages in the order of page with the first letter of each word being in a first column and the nth letter being in.an nth column, said key table being located before or after said group of pages in the book, and a page marking being provided at the edge of each page of the group corresponding to the headword of the page in the key table, said marking being parallel with the line of the page headword in the table.

2. A word index device in a book as claimed in claim 1, in which the page marking consists of colour printing, a mark, a noth or a piece projecting from the page.

3. A word index device in a book as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the page marking is provided on the openable side section of the book.

4. A word index device in a book as claimed in any preceding claim in which a marking for identifying the page of the key table extends from the top section of the book.

5. A word index device in a book as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 in which the coloured page marking is provided in black and white alternately.

6. A word index device in a book substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.