US1663307A - Bookmark - Google Patents

Description

March 20, 1928.

6. AL. JACKSON BOOKMARK Filed Oct. 18, 1926 5 9%, QM r m Patented Mar. 20, 1928a UNITED STATES GLENN L. JACKSON, or enrcaeo, rumors.

' BOOKMARK.

Application filed October 18, 1926'. Serial No. 142,345.

My invention relates to book marks, and more particularly to a device of this type which is simple, effective, easily used, and cheap to manufacture, and has particular reference to certain improvements upon the device which is described and claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 736,407, filed September 8, 1924.

Heretofore, as explained in my prior application, devices of the prior art have been of complicated design, having no means for placing or removing them except some'protruding portion, and have been constructed of paper or thick metal, as to make them less practical and useful.

An object of my invention is to provide a book mark of improved design which overcomes the above objections, and has the advantageover the form shown in the prior application that it is more readily inserted upon or removed from the leaf of a book. This is due to an improved form of fold in one of the legs of the device which presents a raised rib across the leg and with which the thumb or finger engages, in attempting to remove the mark from the leaf.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following detailed description taken in connection'with the accompanying drawing, in which: I

Figure 1 is a top view of the completed device; 7

Fig. 2 is a side view of the same;

Figs. 3 to 8 are side views showing different modificationsof the device; and

Fig. 9 illustrates the manner in which the hand grips the fold to relieve the pressure between the legs when the device isremoved from or inserted upon the leaf of a book.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the book mark embodying my invention comprises a strip of relatively thin, flexible, tenuous material, such as metal, or other suitable resilient material. Bronze and cop- )er compounds have been found to be metals having suitable characteristics, but I do not desire to be limited to the material employed. p

The device includes a strip 1 bent across in a straight line 6 so as to form two flatly opposed legs with the back leg 3 preferably longer than the front or index leg 2. Legs 2 and 3 may be resiliently, but lightly, pressed against each other, so that the book leaf may be easily inserted, yet gripped by suflicient pressure to prevent: the book mark from accidentally slipping off.

It is preferable that the legs 2 and 3 be brought so closely together thatpractically no space is left at the point designated 5, butin view ofthe fact that the material is thin and flexible, the legs 2 and 3 quickly spread when the leaf of the book is inserted. Minimum separation of the legs adjacent to the edge 6 is provided for the purpose of assuring that the book mark will be moved in wardly the full length upon the leaf and that the maximum grippingetlect will be at the edge 6, or in close proximity thereto. The margin of the leaf will contact with edge 6 and be strengthened thereby at this place. This prevents the leaf from being torn when the book is opened to locate the place marked by the device, the leaf sometimes being gripped at the spot to turn the remaining leaves forwardly or backwardly, as the case may be;

The present invention resides primarily in providing means for facilitating the removal or insertion of the book mark and comprises a fold 7 provided in one of the legs, this fold being formed by doubling and pressing the material tightly whereby a rib is formed across the outsideofthe leg to permit engagement by the thumb or finger. I find in those forms where this fold is provided close to the edge 6 of the leaf when the mark is in position on the leaf, the raising of the fold as would occur in attempting to remove the book mark tends to relieve the gripping action of the two legs on the edge of the leaf and thus makes the book mark more readily removable from the leaf. This'act-ion is more readily understood when it is remembered that the outer fold tends to spread apart and thus relieve the pressure on the inner leg. That is to say, the outer fold when gripped tends to carry with it the leg, against which it lies, thereby spreading this leg apart from the opposite leg and relieving the pressure.

It is apparent that the reverse action would be true in placing the book mark on the leaf; that is, in holding it in the fingers, the natural tendency would be to separate the fold from the leaf which tends to open the legs to permit the device to be slipped to the full extent on the edge of the leaf, and when the fold is relieved, the fold tends to spring together and cause the legs more firmly to grip the leaf.

Different locations for the folds have been shown in the various figures." For instance, in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the fold extends inwardly from the end 6 and may be located on either leg 2 or 3. In Figs. 3 and 4, the fold 7 is at a greater distance from the end 6 of the device, and also from the edge of the leaf when the device is placed thereon, thereby obtaining the additional advantage that it can be sprung away from the leaf far enough to get the finger partway underneath and not merely the finger nail or thumb nail. In Figs. 5 and 6, the fold 7 is formed on the legs 2 and 3 between their ends. In Figs. 7 and 8, the fold extends both ways and either rib may be used in placing the book mark on the leaf. lVhile the fold may be placed on either leg, and even on both-although not shown in the A drawings, I find it very convenient to place the fold across the leg opposite the indicator, that is, across the leg 8, as it is handled by the finger as opposed to the thumb.

I have shown in Fig. 9 how the hand may grip the device in order for the fold to separate the legs 2 and 3 and relieve the pressure they exert upon the leaf 8. Any two fingers ofthehand may be employed, but for the purposes of illustration, the thumb 9 is shown resting against the edge while the index finger grips the fold 7 to raise it and the leg 2. The nail of the index finger may be brought over the rib, because the material is thin and very flexible and will yield to a slight force. Due to this flexibility, the leg 2 readily follows the fold 7 and separates from the leaf, thereby permitting the device to be more readily slipped from the edge of the leaf.

My invention is exceedingly simple in character, but I have found that considerable advantages are obtained thereby. It permits a book mark to be used which avoids all undesirable projections from the margin of the leaf. A thin edge only contacts with and lies without the leafywhieh-edge provides a neat appearance, holds the device on ment or removal by relieving the pressure between legs when the fold is engaged by the finger or thumb.

Various arrangements and modifications of the various features may be had. without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A book mark adaptedto be slipped over the edge of a leaf of a book comprising a strip of relatively thin, tenuous, flexible material sharply bent across between its extremities in a straight line to form two flatly opposed legs to embrace the leaf, and a portion of said strip doubled and flattened to provide means for attaching and releasing said book mark from the margin-of a page.

2. A book mark comprising a strip of relatively thin, tenuous flexible-material bent between its extremities in a straight line to form two flatly opposed legs, and a portion intermediate the ends of said legs doubled and flattened in such. a manner that three sections of a leg are parallel and in close proximity, thus forming a slightly projecting rib to provide means for attaching and releasing said book mark from the margin of a page.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

GLENN L. JACKSON.

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