WO2009111824A1

WO2009111824A1 - Bookmark and brace

Info

Publication number: WO2009111824A1
Application number: PCT/AU2009/000283
Authority: WO
Inventors: Simon Winterflood
Original assignee: Simon Winterflood
Priority date: 2008-03-11
Filing date: 2009-03-11
Publication date: 2009-09-17

Abstract

A bookmark and book brace device has a generally flat, unitary body. The body has a pair of arms that define a gap therebetween and a pair of curved legs positioned in the gap. A transverse portion interconnects the arms and the legs.

Description

Bookmark and Brace

Field of the Invention

The invention pertains to bookmarks and more particularly to a bookmark that can be used as a brace for the purpose of keeping a book open, at a particular place, without using one's hands.

Background of the Invention

Numerous devices have been proposed for keeping a book open. Many such devices are large, cumbersome or involve the use of moving parts. Other devices use elastic bands or are sized so as to only accommodate a somewhat narrow range size or type of book.

Objects and Summary of the Invention It is an object of the invention to provide a bookmark that may also be used as a book brace.

It is another object of the invention to provide a bookmark that can be used as a book brace that is simple in construction, versatile and robust.

It is another object of the invention to provide a book brace that is simple, yet adaptable to a wide variety of book types and sizes.

It is another object of the invention to provide a bookmark and book brace that is formed from a unitary body of polymeric material having no joints, moving parts or elastic bands.

Accordingly, there is provided a bookmark and brace comprising a unitary body. The body is symmetrical and characterised by a pair of legs and a pair of arms. The arms define a gap within which are located the legs. The legs are longer than the arms.

In one embodiment, a bookmark and book brace device has a generally flat, unitary body, the body having a pair of arms that define a gap therebetween and a pair of curved legs positioned in the gap., a transverse portion interconnecting the arms and the legs.

In preferred embodiments, the legs curve toward each other and the arms curve away from each other. In other embodiments, a head Is located above the arms and centred with respect to the arms and the legs.

Brief Description of the Drawing Figures In order that the invention be better understood, reference is now made to the following drawing figures in which:

Figure i is a plan view of a bookmark and book brace made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; Figure ia is an elevation view of a head portion of the device depicted in Figure i, and also accessories that are attachable to the head portion;

Figure 2 is a cross section through line A-A of Figure l; Figure 3 is a cross section through line B-B of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a cross section through line C-C of Figure 1; Figure 5 Is a cross section through line D-D of Figure 1;

Figure 6 Is a cross section through line E-E of Figure 1; Figure 7 is a side view of the device depicted in Figure 1; and Figure 8 is a perspective view of the device depicted in Figure 1

Best Mode and Other Embodiments

A bookmark and book brace 10 is depicted in Figure 1. As illustrated, the device 10 comprises a generally flat, unitary injection moulded plastic body 11 that is in this example symmetric about a longitudinal centre line 12. The device 10 comprises a pair of curved arms 13 that define a gap therebetween. A pair of curved legs 14 is positioned in the gap, between the arms 13. A transverse portion 15 of the device interconnects the arms 13 and the legs 14. A head portion 16 extends above the transverse portion and is preferably positioned symmetrically with respect to the centre line 12. The head may have a central opening 16a to provide a better grip. This central opening can also be used to facilitate the attachment of "snap-on' type accessories such as 'character' heads or personalised badges.

As shown in Figure ia, an accessory 80 may be attachable to the head portion 16. The accessory 80 in this example has a decorative portion 81 and an attachment portion. The decorative portion 81 may be of various shapes or bear various images, colours or patterns. For example the decorative portion 81 may be a round disk. The attachment portion is fitted into the central opening 16a. The mechanism by which the accessory 80 is retained can vary. As shown, the attachment portion may be a stopper or plug 82 that can be placed into the opening 16a. The stopper or plug 82 may be of an elastomeric material such as silicone, or any other flexible material, such as cork. The accessory portion 80 can be retained by a friction fit between the stopper 82 and the head portion 16. In another example, the attachment portion comprises an array of fingers or tabs 83. In the embodiment shown, the array 83 forms a circle. Each finger or tab 83 may have formed into it a groove 84. The grooves 84 allows the fingers or tabs 83 to snap onto the interior edge (71, see Figure 7) of the head portion 16. Further ways of retaining the accessory 80 may be used. For example, the decorative portion 81 and the attachment portion may be adapted to clip or otherwise attach to each other through the central opening 16a. Figure 1 also suggests how the device 10 is used in conjunction with an open book. The open book is seen as having opposed open pages 17, 18 separated by a crease 19. The legs 14 are positioned, one on each side of the crease 19 and preferably at least a few pages below the open pages 17, 18. The arms 13 are positioned above the pages 17, 18. In this orientation, the bookmark and brace 10 maintains the book in an open position, hands free. The head 16 is useful for inserting and removing the device 10.

The device 10 has been carefully configured for ease of use and optimised holding ability. In preferred embodiments, the surface of the polymeric body of the device 10 is provided with a slight texturing to provide additional friction against the pages of the open book. This slight friction makes it more difficult for the pages to shift when the book is open.

The legs 14 gently curve toward each other to define a second or medial gap 20. Thus, the medial gap 20 is inwardly curved along both lateral sides 21, 22. The gap 20 is fully open between the terminal ends or tips 23 of the legs 14, and closed at one end by the slightly convex surface 24 presented by the transverse portion 15 in the area between the upper extents of the legs 14. Each leg 14 terminates in a rounded and tapered tip 23. As shown in Figure 6, the exterior edge 60 of each leg is tapered to a smaller radius of curvature 61 than the interior edge 62. The interior edge 62 presents a generally semi-circular radius. The flat portion of the upper surface 63 and lower surface 64 of each leg is centred more toward the interior edge 62 than the exterior edge 61. The flat portions 63, 64 widen from a narrowest width 65 toward the bottom of each leg, toward the top of the each leg 66. The flat surfaces 63, 64 merge, at the top of each leg 66 with the flat surface 100 that extends down the length of each arm, across the transverse portion 16 and around the head 16, as will be explained. The arms 13 are shorter than the legs 14 and are curved in an opposite direction from the adjacent leg. Together, the arm 13 and leg 14 on each side of the device 10 define a generally "wedge" shaped structure with a smooth interior curvature peaking at the "armpit" 25 between the two limbs 70. This wedge shape allows a varying quantity (depth) of pages to be gripped equally firmly - as the book reader turns from page to page. To further facilitate this, the body as a whole 10 automatically rotates a few degrees, clockwise or anti-clockwise, pivoted around a centre point between the "ankles" 65. The gap 20 between the legs tapers outwards and upwards towards the "chest" 26, from 65 to 66, to accommodate this rotation, as well as encouraging a small amount of motion to the left or right, of the centre line, of the entire "upper body". This improves grip and helps in keeping a book as wide open/flat as possible. Note, with reference to the plan view depicted in Figure 1, that for optimum flexibility, the transition point 25 between the arm 13 and leg 14 is located vertically above (or further from the closest legs tip 23 than) the lowest point 26 of the curved edge 24 between the legs 14.

Each arm 13 has flat portions along both the upper and lower surfaces that are continuous with the other flat surfaces on each side of the device. As suggested by Figure 5, the flat portions of the upper surface 51 and the lower surface 52 of each arm are centred toward the external edges 53. The external edge 53 presents a generally semi-circular edge radius whereas the internal edge 54 achieves a smaller edge radius that tapers 55 toward the flat portions 51, 52. A similar geometry applies through shoulder area 40, where the arms 13 join the transverse portion 15. The plan form of the external edge 41 in the area of the shoulder is generally smooth and rounded. The cross section of the shoulder 40 is shown in Figure 4. In addition to being rounded in plan view, the external edge 41 is radiused so as to present a generally semi-circular edge radius as shown in Figure 4. The interior edge 42 has a smaller bend radius than the exterior edge 41. The interior edge 42 tapers toward the flat surfaces that extend along the arms and legs 13, 14.

The device works, essentially by clamping pages on opposite sides of the crease 19 between adjacent arms and legs 13, 14. The tendency for the book to close is resisted by the rigidity of the transverse portion 15. Because the gap between an adjacent arm and leg 13, 14 decreases toward the transition point 25, the clamping force exerted between the adjacent arm and leg 13, 14 increases as the device 10 is inserted further into the pages of the book. In order to facilitate removal of the device lo, an optional head 16 maybe provided. The head may have a central opening 16a to facilitate a better grip during insertion and removal As suggested by Figure 2, the exterior edge 70 is preferably rounded to present a semi-circular radius whereas the interior edge 71 presents an elliptical section, tapering towards the flat portions 72, 73.

From a consideration of Figure 1 it will be appreciated that the device is generally flat, but the opposing edges of the arms and legs where clamping is occurring are conveniently tapered to improve the grip friction exerted on the pages. Similarly all of the exterior contours of the device and exterior edges are provided free from sharp corners to improve feel to reduce the possibility of stress cracking. In one embodiment, the overall length of the device from the tip of the head to the bottom of the legs is about 78 mm. The overall width across the widest parts of the arms is approximately 64 mm. The depth of the medial gap 20 from the lowest point of the transverse portion 26 to the tips of the legs 23 is about 50 mm. The narrowest point across the medial gap 20 is approximately 15 mm. The maximum width across each arm is approximately 8 mm. The maximum width of each leg is approximately 9 mm. In preferred embodiments, the device is approximately 2 mm thick.

While the present invention has been disclosed with reference to particular details of construction, these should be understood as having been provided by way of example and not as limitations to the scope or spirit of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

l. A bookmark and book brace device comprising:

a generally flat, unitary body; the body having a pair of arms that define a gap therebetween and a pair of curved legs positioned in the gap, a transverse portion interconnecting the arms 13 and the legs.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising: a head portion extending above the transverse portion.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein: the device is symmetric with respect to a longitudinal centre line.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein: the head portion has a central opening.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein: an accessory is attachable to the head portion.

6. The device of claim s, wherein: the accessory comprises a plug of an elastomeric material retained by a friction fit between the plug and the head portion.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein: the accessory comprises an array of fingers that snap onto an interior edge of the head portion.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein: a surface of the body is provided with a slight texturing to provide additional friction. 9- The device of claim l, wherein: the legs curve toward each other to define a medial gap having two opposed interior lateral edges that are inwardly curved toward one another.

10. The device of claim l, wherein: each leg terminates in a rounded and tapered tip.

11. The device of claim l, wherein: an exterior edge of each leg is tapered to a smaller radius of curvature than an interior edge of said leg.

12. The device of claim l, wherein: a flat portion of an upper surface and a lower surface of each leg is centred more toward an interior edge than an exterior edge.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein: the flat portion of each leg widens from a narrowest width toward a bottom of each leg, toward a top of the each leg.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein: a flat surface at the top of each leg merges with a flat surface that extends down a length of each arm and across the transverse portion.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein: the arms are shorter than the legs.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein: the arms are curved in an opposite direction from an adjacent leg. iy. The device of claim i, wherein: the arm and leg on a side of the device define a generally wedge shaped structure with a smooth interior curvature peaking at a location between said arm and leg.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein: each arm has flat portions along both an upper and a lower surface that are continuous with other flat surfaces on each side of the device.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein: each arm has external edge; the flat portions of the upper surface the lower surface of each arm are located toward an arm's external edge; an external edge presenting a first generally semi-circular edge radius whereas an internal edge of an arm achieves a second edge radius that is smaller than the first radius and tapers toward the flat portions.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein: the device has exterior contours and edges and all of the exterior contours of the device and exterior edges are provided free from sharp corners.