AUTOMATIC BOOKMARK

Abstract

The automatic bookmark includes a first fixing portion (2) and a second fixing portion (3) to be fixed to the respective front and back covers of a book W or the like; a bookmark portion (6) to be inserted between the closed pages; a first arm portion (4) whose base end is connected to the first fixing portion (2) and leading end is connected to the bookmark portion (6); and a second arm portion (5) whose base end is connected to the second fixing portion (3) and leading end is connected to the bookmark portion (6). A joint portion (11) is provided that connects the leading end of the first arm portion (4) and the leading end of the second arm portion (5). The bookmark portion (6) has a shape whose one end is connected to the joint portion (11) and another end is directed to between the pages.

Claims

1. An automatic bookmark comprising: a first fixing portion to be fixed to an upper edge of a front cover of a book; a second fixing portion to be fixed to an upper edge of a back cover of the book; a bookmark portion to be positioned closer to an open side of the book than both of the fixing portions are, and to be inserted between closed pages of the book; a first arm portion whose base end is connected to the first fixing portion and leading end is connected to the bookmark portion; and a second arm portion whose base end is connected to the second fixing portion and leading end is connected to the bookmark portion, wherein in conjunction with separation between the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion, following an opening motion of the book, the first arm portion and the second arm portion swing upward above between open pages of the book, so that the bookmark portion departs from between the pages, in conjunction with approach between the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion, following a closing motion of the book, the first arm portion and the second arm portion swing, so that the bookmark portion is inserted between closed pages, a joint portion is provided that connects the first arm portion and the second arm portion to each other via the respective leading ends of the first arm portion and the second arm portion, and the bookmark portion has a shape whose one end is connected to the joint portion and another end is directed to between the pages of the book.

2. The automatic bookmark according to claim 1, wherein the joint portion is positioned such that the joint portion is exposed outside above the book in a case where the bookmark portion is inserted between the pages of the book.

3. The automatic bookmark according to claim 1, wherein the first arm portion and the second arm portion are in a posture extending along an upper edge of the book in a case where the bookmark portion is inserted between the pages of the book.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1 is an explanatory perspective view of an automatic bookmark according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 2 is an explanatory side view of the automatic bookmark according to this embodiment in use.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 2.

[0020] FIG. 4 is an explanatory front view of the automatic bookmark according to this embodiment in use.

[0021] FIG. 5 is a plan view of FIG. 4.

[0022] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram explaining a hinge portion formed.

[0023] FIG. 7 is a side view of FIG. 4.

[0024] FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a modified example of a clip portion.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0025] One embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. An automatic bookmark 1 in this embodiment is made of paperboard and, as illustrated in FIG. 1, has two identically shaped fixing portions (a first fixing portion 2, a second fixing portion 3), two identically shaped arm portions (a first arm portion 4, a second arm portion 5) connected to the respective fixing portions 2, 3, and a single bookmark portion 6 connected to the respective leading ends of the arm portions 4, 5. Although both the fixing portions 2, 3 have the identical shapes in this embodiment, the first fixing portion 2 and the second fixing portion 3 may have different shapes.

[0026] As illustrated in FIG. 2 to FIG. 5, the respective fixing portions 2, 3 have clip portions 7, 8 for holding in-between the respective upper end portions of the front and back covers of a book W or the like. The clip portions 7, 8 sandwich, to thereby fix, the respective front and back covers of a book W or the like each between two tongue pieces formed by bending a metal spring panel so as to overlap each other. In the above, as illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, the respective upper edges of the front and back covers abut against the respective straight bending portions 7a, 8a of the clip portions 7, 8, whereby the respective fixing portions 2, 3 can be reliably attached in a predetermined posture.

[0027] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the first arm portion 4 and the second arm portion 5 are formed having identical long thin band shapes (symmetrical shapes). This shape is different from the shape of the fixing portions 2, 3. The respective base ends of the arm portions 4, 5 are connected to the fixing portions 2, 3 via hinge portions 9, 10. The respective leading ends of the arm portions 4, 5 are connected to each other via a joint portion 11.

[0028] The joint portion 11 is connected to the base end (one end) of the bookmark portion 6. The bookmark portion 6 has a triangular shape whose leading end (the other end) has an acute angle. The bookmark portion 6 does not have a conventional folding line and always remains in a flat panel shape. Since the bookmark portion 6 is formed in a single panel shape without a folding line, the degree of freedom in designing the bookmark portion 6 is high.

[0029] The respective hinge portions 9, 10 are folding lines along the boundaries between the fixing portions 2, 3 and the arm portions 4, 5. When the respective fixing portions 2, 3 are fixed to the front and back covers in the predetermined posture mentioned above, the hinge portions 9, 10 are inclined at a predetermined angle (see FIG. 2) relative to the upper edges of the front and back covers.

[0030] In this embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the respective folding lines along which the arm portions 4, 5, which extend diagonally upward from the respective upper portions of the rear end portions (the sewed side of a book W or the like) of the fixing portions 2, 3, are folded forward of the respective fixing portions 2, 3 (the open side of a book W or the like), as indicated by the imaginary line in FIG. 6, make the hinge portions 9, 10.

[0031] The angle of the hinge portions 9, 10 can be desirably set in accordance with the length of the arm portions 4, 5 and the dimension of the bookmark portion 6. The angle of the hinge portions 9, 10 in this embodiment is set to 45, which, however, is not an exclusive example.

[0032] As both the hinge portions 9, 10 have the angle , the arm portions 4, 5 can swing smoothly. The range for both the arm portions 4, 5 to swing depends on not only the angle of the hinge portions 9, 10 but also the angle defined by the open pages of the book W or the length of both the arm portions 4. 5.

[0033] Both the fixing portions 2, 3 move separating from each other along with the motion of the front and back covers when the pages of the book W are being opened. With the fixing portions 2, 3 separating from each other, the arm portions 4, 5 both swing upward of the book W, as illustrated in FIG. 7. With the arm portions 4, 5 swinging, the bookmark portion 6 is lifted upward of the open pages to be retreated there.

[0034] When the book W is being closed, both the fixing portions 2, 3 move approaching to each other. Accordingly, both the arm portions 4, 5 swing downward (in the direction approaching the upper edge of the book W), and the bookmark portion 6 is inserted between the closed pages, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0035] The joint portion 11 stays exposed outside the book W even when the bookmark portion 6 is held between the pages of a book W or the like. With the above, the joint portion 11 is not held between the pages. Hence, the gap between the pages where the bookmark portion is held when the book W is closed is not left wider than necessary.

[0036] In a case that both the arm portions 4, 5 are formed having a thin straight band shape, setting the angle of the hinge portions 9, 10 to 45 allows both the arm portions 4, 5 to extend substantially parallel to the upper edge of the book W. With the above, the automatic bookmark 1 can remain compact when attached to a book W or the like, so that both the arm portions 4, 5 are not an obstacle, for example, when carrying the book W closed.

[0037] The flat bookmark portion 6 of the automatic bookmark 1 of the present embodiment having the above-described structure is held between pages while remaining flat when the book W is closed, and departs from the book W while remaining flat when the book W is being opened. In the above, as both the arm portions 4, 5 can freely flex and the hinge portions 9, 10 have the angle , a relatively large swinging angle can be set for both the arm portions 4, 5. With the above, a page being turned less likely touches the bookmark portion 6 retreated above between the open pages of the book W. Should the bookmark portion 6 touch the page, both the arm portions 4, 5 will flex so flexibly that the pages can be turned substantially without resistance.

[0038] Although an example has been described in this embodiment in which the first fixing portion 2 is attached to the front cover and the second fixing portion 3 is attached to the back cover, this does not prevent attachment to the sheets constituting the pages of a book W or the like. When the fixing portions 2, 3, are attached to the sheets constituting the pages of a book W or the like, the fixing portions 2, 3 can be used also as a bookmark.

[0039] Both the fixing portions 2, 3 can be attached at any desired positions between the front side (the open side) and the far side (the sewed side) of a book W or the like, depending on the thickness of the book W and the limit angle for opening the book W. Specifically, for example, for books W whose pages can be opened up to 180, attaching both the fixing portions 2, 3 on the far side (closer to the sewed side) of such a book W can make the automatic bookmark 1 usable with the book W. Even in the case, not illustrated, that a book W or the like is viewed with the pages of the book W kept open at 180 or wider, the automatic bookmark 1 is usable without problem as the arm portions 4, 5 rise following the reversing motion of both the fixing portions 2, 3 so as to flexibly follow.

[0040] Although an automatic bookmark 1 that is made of paperboard as material is described in this embodiment, the material is not limited to paperboard, and any panel members of materials having appropriate rigidity and flexibility are preferably usable. In this case, such materials may include polypropylenes (PP), polyethylenes (PE), polyethylene terephthalates (PET), polycarbonates (PC), paper reinforced with scotch tape, resin-reinforced thin wood panels, and thin metal plates.

[0041] The automatic bookmark 1 can be made in various fashions. The automatic bookmark 1 can be obtained by assembling the fixing portions 2, 3, the arm portions 4, 5, and the bookmark portion 6 as separate parts with adhesive agent, for example. In this case, the respective parts may all be made of the same material, or the respective parts may be made of different materials for every part.

[0042] Although not illustrated, the automatic bookmark 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 may be assembled by forming a sheet punched into a desired shape, then forming the bookmark portion 6 in a panel shape through attachment with adhesive agent, and subsequently folding the fixing portions 2, 3 along the folding lines constituting the hinge portions 9, 10, relative to the respective arm portions 4, 5. This fashion makes it possible to assemble the automatic bookmark 1 very easily.

[0043] Although an example has been described in this embodiment in which the respective clip portions 7, 8 are provided to the fixing portions 2, 3 to therewith attach the fixing portions 2, 3 to the front and back covers, besides this structure, as illustrated in FIG. 8, clip-like notches 12, 13 may be formed on the fixing portions 2, 3, so that the front and back covers are inserted in the notches 12, 13 whereby the fixing portions 2, 3 are fixed. Alternatively, although not illustrated, instead of the clip portions 7, 8, the respective fixing portions 2, 3 may be fixed to the front and back covers, for example, with a magnet clip, a double stick tape, or adhesive agent, the magnet clip being for fixing with magnets attached on the respective front and back surfaces of a paper sheet.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0044] W . . . book or the like, 1 . . . automatic bookmark, 2 . . . first fixing portion, 3 . . . second fixing portion, 4 . . . first arm portion, 5 . . . second arm portion, 6 . . . bookmark portion, 11 . . . joint portion.