| CA2229887A1 | 1998-08-19 | |||
| AU7018681A | 1982-11-11 | |||
| US5152553A | 1992-10-06 | |||
| US4235457A | 1980-11-25 | |||
| SU1335486A1 | 1987-09-07 | |||
| FR2807707A1 | 2001-10-19 | |||
| GB2311961A | 1997-10-15 |
| 1. | A device to maintain a book open comprising a "Vshaped" blade integrally formed by resilient means to a backing member when the device is slid parallel down an open books spine with the blade engaging the junction of the open pages and the backing member the spine said book is maintained open by the resilient means. |
| 2. | The device to maintain a book open of claim 1 wherein the resilient means can be hinged between the blade and backing member and locked into place. |
| 3. | The device to maintain a book open of claim 1 wherein the resilient means and backing member are one and the same piece. AMENDEDCLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 19 June 2002 (19.06.02); claims 1 replaced with amended claims 1, claims 2 and 3 unchanged; new claims 4 to 10 added (1 page)] + STATEMENT The claims defining the invention are as follows. |
| 4. | 1 A device to maintain a book open comprising a"Vshaped"blade integrally formed by resilient means to a backing member, when the device is slid parallel down an open books spine with the blade engaging the junction of the open pages, being of such a width that it remains inside the page margins and does not encroach upon said books print, and the backing member the spine said book is maintained open by the resilient means. |
| 5. | 2 The device to maintain a book open of claim 1 wherein the resilient means can be hinged between the blade and backing member and locked into place. |
| 6. | 3 The device to maintain a book open of claim 1 wherein the resilient means and backing member are one and the same piece. |
| 7. | The device to maintain a book open of claim 3 wherein the resilient means is comprised of spring steel. |
| 8. | The device to maintain a book open of claim 3 wherein the resilient means is comprised of stainless steel. |
| 9. | The device to maintain a book open of claim 1 wherein when the device is slid down an open books spine with the backing member engaging the junction of the open pages and the blade the spine with the backing member being of such a dimension to allow said book to be closed tightly on the backing member and the device now idles as a book mark. |
| 10. | The device to maintain a book open of claim 6 wherein the resilient means can be hinged between the blade and backing member and locked into place. |
| 11. | The device to maintain a book open of claim 6 wherein the resilient means and backing member are one and the same. |
| 12. | The device to maintain a book open of claim 8 wherein the resilient means is comprised of spring steel. |
| 13. | The device to maintain a book open of claim 8 wherein the resilient means is comprised of stainless steel. Andrew Tuohey The claims for the device to maintain a book open where amended because, It was not previously stated that the"VShaped blade"ofthe device to maintain a book open is of such a width that it remains inside the open pages margins and does not encroach on the books print. It was not previously stated that the device to maintain a book open could, when not in use maintaining said book open, be alternately used a"bookmark". This factor is (see Drawing 4/4,23) integral to the uniqueness of the device. It was not previously stated that the"backing member"of the device to maintain a book open needed to be of such a dimension to allow the books pages to close tightly on it when being used as a"bookmark". |
Readers of novels can read anywhere any time : ie, at home, at the beach on a bus.
And books have a natural tendency to remain closed, via there spine, unless held open by both hands. Thus the reader can do little else simultaneously : ie, eat or drink.
It is the object of the present invention to overcome the above disadvantage.
There is disclosed herein a device to maintain a book in an open configuration.
Allowing hands free reading. The invention has a blade of"V-shaped" transverse cross-section to engage the junction of adjacent open pages of the book and to extend generally parallel to the spine. A backing member engages the spine, and resilient means urge the blade and backing member together so as to maintain the book in an open conflguton exposing said pages.
In one fonn of the invention the blade is made of plastic and the resilient means and backing member are the same piece of spring steeL Both pieces of material are tapered to prevent page damage.
The blade and backing member may be made of any suitable material, such as molded plastic, steel, wood or a composite.
The resilient component maybe made of any resilient matenal such as spring steel, metals or plastics. It may also be hinged.
To assist with understanding the invention, reference will now be made to the Accompanying drawings which show four examples of the Invention.
Brief Description of the Drawings In the drawings.
Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a device to maintain a book open at a desired location ; Figure 2 is a schematic side elevation of the device of Figure 1 ; Figure 3 is a schematic end elevation of the device of Figure 1 ; Figure 4 is a schematic plan view of a modification of the device of Figure 1 ; Figure 5 is a schematic side elevation of the device of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a schematic end elevation of the device of figure 4; Figure 7 is a schematic plan view of a modification of the device of Figure 1 ; Figure 8 is a schematic side elevation of the device of Figure 7 ; Figure 9 is a schematic end elevation of the device of Figure 7 ; Figure 10 is a schematic side elevation of a modification of the device of Figure 1 ; Figure 11 is a schematic plan view of the device of Figure 10; and Figure 12 is a schematic end elevation of the device of Figure 10.
Detailed description of the Preferred Embodiments In Figures 1 to 3 there is schematically depicted a device 10 to maintain a book open at a desired location. The device 10 includes a blade 11 of V-shaped transverse cross-section which engages adjacent open pages of a book. More particularly the blade 11 has two planar portions 12 and 13 joined at a longitudinal apex 14 which extends longitudinally along the junction of the two opened pages. The blade 11 extends generally parallel to the spine of the book.
To engage the spine of the book on the exterior of the book is a backing member 15. The backing member 15 is attached to the blade 11 by means of a resilient ring 16. The ring 16 would have extending from its a= 17 and 18, with the arm 17 being attached to the blade 11 and the arm 18 being attached to the backing member 15.
In operation of the above device 10, a book is opened at a desired location and the device 10 positioned so that the portions 12 and d 13 abut the two exposed pages. The backing member 15 then engages the rear of the book adjacent the spine so as to maintain the book opened at desired location. The blade 11 and backX member 15 are retied in position by resilient defamation of the ring 16 which urges the blade 11 and backing member 15 together.
Tn the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3 the backing member 15 is of a generally planar comiguiaHon.
In the embodiment of Figures 4 to 6 the backing member is of a"V- shaped"tansverse cross-section so as to have inclined portions 19 and 20.
In the embodiment of Figures 7 to 9 the blade 11 and backing member 15 are integrall med from plastics material and are attached adjacent the end 21, which undergoes resilient defamation to urge the blade 11 towards the backing member 15.
In the embodiment of Figures 10 to 12 the device includes a spring member 21 which includes a ring portion 22 integrally formed with two arms 23 and 24.
Attached to the arm 22 is the blade 11 which is urged toward the arm 23 by the arm 24.