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US 6,854,417 B2Granted
Adjustable bookmark
OwnerSylvia G. Stephensinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bookmark is adjustable to closely fit the height of a book, magazine, or the like in order to preclude inadvertent slipping or falling from the work. The present bookmark essentially comprises a strand of material having opposite first and second ends, with the ends passing through one or more adjuster beads from opposite directions to form a loop. The two strands thus “criss-cross” within the passage through the bead, with their frictional interference and bends around the sides of the bead(s) to pass laterally through the bead(s), providing a good frictional fit in order to hold the adjustment as desired. The loop is passed over one cover and group of pages in the book or work, with one side of the loop passing around the back of the spine and the opposite side of the loop passing between the pages of interest to mark the place.
Claims20
An adjustable bookmark, comprising:
- at least one thin, flexible strand of material forming a closed loop, and having at least a first portion and a second portion opposite said first portion;
- at least one group of adjuster beads having a number of said adjuster beads, wherein each of said adjuster beads has a first end, a second end opposite said first end, and a strand passage formed therethrough and extending from said first end to said second end of said adjuster bead;
- said first portion of said at least one strand adjustably passing through said strand passage of at least one of said number of said adjuster beads from said first end thereof and outwardly from said second end thereof;
- said second portion of said at least one strand adjustably passing through said strand passage of said at least one of said number of said adjuster beads from said second end thereof and outwardly from said first end thereof, with said first portion of said at least one strand and said second portion of said at least one strand adjustably crossing one another within said strand passage of said at least one of said number of said adjuster beads;
- and
- said first portion of said at least one strand, said second portion of said at least one strand, and said at least one of said number of said adjuster beads defining said closed loop for passing said first portion of said at least one strand around the back of the spine of a book and selectively passing said second portion of said at least one strand between adjacent pages of the book, for selectively marking a position within the book as desired and adjusting said closed loop to fit about the spine of the book.
3 more elements
An adjustable bookmark, comprising:
- a first strand and a second strand;
- each said strand being formed of at least one thin, flexible length of material, and having at least a first end portion with a first end and a second end portion with a second end opposite said first end portion and said first end;
- a first group and a second group of adjuster beads, each said group having a number of adjusting beads;
- each of said adjuster beads having a first end, a second end opposite said first end, and a strand passage formed therethrough and extending from said first end to said second end thereof;
- said first end portion of said first strand adjustably passing through said strand passage of a first one of said first group of adjuster beads from said first end thereof and outwardly from said second end thereof, thence continuing through said strand passage of a second one of said first group of adjuster beads from said second end thereof and outwardly from said first end thereof, and alternately continuing in the same manner according to the number of said adjuster beads of said first group of adjuster beads;
- said first end portion of said second strand adjustably passing through said strand passage of the first one of said first group of adjuster beads from said second end thereof and outwardly from said first end thereof, thence continuing through said strand passage of the second one of said first group of adjuster beads from said first end thereof and outwardly from said second end thereof, and alternately continuing in the same manner according to the number of said adjuster beads of said first group of adjuster beads;
- said second end portion of said first strand adjustably passing through said strand passage of a first one of said second group of adjuster beads from said first end thereof and outwardly from said second end thereof, thence continuing through said strand passage of a second one of said second group of adjuster beads from said second end thereof and outwardly from said first end thereof, and alternately continuing in the same manner according to the number of said adjuster beads of said second group of adjuster beads;
- said second end portion of said second strand adjustably passing through said strand passage of the first one of said second group of adjuster beads from said second end thereof and outwardly from said first end thereof, thence continuing through said strand passage of the second one of said second group of adjuster beads from said first end thereof and outwardly from said second end thereof, and alternately continuing in the same manner according to the number of said adjuster beads of said second group of adjuster beads;
- and
- said first strand, said second strand, said first group of adjuster beads, and said second group of adjuster beads defining a closed loop for passing said first strand around the back of the spine of a book and selectively passing said second strand between adjacent pages of the book, for selectively marking a position within the book as desired and adjusting said closed loop to fit about the spine of the book.
7 more elements
An adjustable bookmark, comprising:
- a plurality of thin, flexible strands of material forming a closed loop, and having at least a first portion and a second portion opposite said first portion;
- at least one group of adjuster beads having a number of said adjuster beads, wherein each of said adjuster beads has a first end, a second end opposite said first end, and a strand passage formed therethrough and extending from said first end to said second end of said adjuster bead;
- said first portion of said strands adjustably passing through said strand passage of at least one of said number of said adjuster beads from said first end thereof and outwardly from said second end thereof;
- said second portion of said plurality of strands adjustably passing through said strand passage of said at least one of said number of said adjuster beads from said second end thereof and outwardly from said first end thereof, with said first portion of said plurality of strands and said second portion of said plurality of strands adjustably crossing one another within said strand passage of said at least one of said number of said adjuster beads;
- and
- said first portion of said plurality of strands, said second portion of said plurality of strands, and said at least one of said number of said adjuster beads defining said closed loop for passing said first portion of said plurality of strands around the back of the spine of a book and selectively passing said second portion of said plurality of strands between adjacent pages of the book, for selectively marking a position within the book as desired and adjusting said closed loop to fit about the spine of the book.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.