U.S. patent number 3,858,909 [Application Number 05/386,373] was granted by the patent office on 1975-01-07 for book indexing means.
Invention is credited to Arthur S. Friedman.
United States Patent |
3,858,909 |
Friedman |
January 7, 1975 |
BOOK INDEXING MEANS
Abstract
The leaves of a book are arranged as separate sections each
constituted of a batch of consecutive sheets of the same fiber
containing paper and having a turning axis common thereto. The
first sheet in each batch carries indicia identifying that
particular batch. The fibers of all the batch leaves are oriented
in a direction parallel to their turning axis. Immediately
preceding the first leaf of each batch an indexing leaf is
inserted. Each indexing leaf is made of the same paper as the batch
leaves, but its fibers are oriented in a direction substantially
normal to the turning axis of the leaves. This arrangement assures
that the flexibility and resilience of the indexing leaves are
different from the flexibility and resilience of the batch leaves.
When the book is thumbed, the differences are effective to bring
about a noticeable retardation in the rate of turnover of the
leaves as each indexing leaf is reached. The action is
automatic.
Inventors: |
Friedman; Arthur S. (Merrick,
NY) |
Family
ID: |
23525321 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/386,373 |
Filed: |
August 7, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
283/42 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B42F
21/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B42F
21/00 (20060101); B42f 021/12 () |
Field of
Search: |
;283/36-42,63
;281/15 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Charles; Lawrence
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Dennison, Dennison, Townshend &
Meserole
Claims
I claim:
1. In a book having a sequential series of separate sections each
constituted of a batch of consecutive leaves made of paper
containing parallel fibers all oriented in the same direction, and
an indexing leaf made of the same paper as the batch leaves and
immediately preceding the first leaf of each batch, the fibers of
each indexing leaf being oriented in a direction different from the
direction of orientation of the batch leaf fibers, both the batch
and indexing leaves having a common turning axis, the direction of
orientation of the batch leaf fibers being substantially parallel
to said axis and the direction of orientation of the indexing leaf
fibers being substantially normal to said axis.
2. In the book of claim 1: all said batch and indexing leaves being
of the same size and configuration.
3. In the book of claim 1: the first leaf in each batch having
thereon a distinctive identification indicia containing area
adjacent its indexing side edge; and all said areas being in
registry from front to back of the book.
4. In the book of claim 1: a front cover; and thumb positioning
guide means thereon in registry with said indicia containing areas.
Description
BACKGROUND
The field of this invention is the art of book leaf indexing. As
used herein, the term "book" means any assembly of consecutive
flexible sheets fastened or bound together along one side edge
marginal zone only, constituting leaves of which their opposite
faces form pages.
The prior art concerned with the indexing of book leaves is replete
with various expedients for indexing the leaves to facilitate
access to any desired portion of a book. The vast majority of these
makes use of visual indicators such as projecting tabs, finger
accomodating edge grooves, etc., all of which depend upon visual
identification of a selected portion of the book from its exterior,
before it is opened; so that the book may be opened initially at
the desired portion. In opening, all leaves preceding the first
leaf of a selected portion must either be hand lifted and moved as
a batch to a position in which they do not obstruct view of the
first leaf of the selected portion or be allowed to fall by gravity
to such position; they do not automatically remove themselves from
the desired line of vision when the book is opened.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention intrinsic in the specific embodiment herein disclosed
is a means for indexing the leaves of a book in such manner that
access may quickly be had to any desired portion thereof, simply by
thumbing the leaves so that their free edges slide beneath the
thumb of a person holding a batch of consecutive leaves between the
thumb and forefinger, as when riffling a deck of playing cards in
shuffling. In the present invention, the rate of passage of the
leaf edges beneath the thumb is automatically retarded at
predetermined intervals which individually denote both the ending
of a particular batch of leaves and the beginning of the next
following batch. The period of retardation, although miniscule, is
nevertheless sufficient to enable optical recognition of
identifying indicia on the leading page face of the next following
batch of leaves. Such indicia characterizes the content of the
batch it identifies.
In the present invention, all the paper sheets comprising its
leaves are identical in size and composition, but are arranged in
such manner that each leaf which immediately precedes the first
leaf of the next following batch is, in effect, somewhat less
flexible and resilient than the leaves which precede and follow it.
In consequence, when the book is "thumbed" as indicated in the
foregoing paragraph, the leaves of less resilience pass between the
thumb and forefinger at a slower rate than the others and thus
provide the intervals of retardation.
A silent feature of this invention is the fact that during thumbing
of the book its leaves progress by batches, apparently jumping from
one retardation point to the next following retardation point
without separation of the leaves in any batch, thereby greatly
facilitating the location of a desired batch. This phenomenon is
perhaps due to the fact that in small books of the type to which
the invention is most applicable, the batches individually comprise
relatively few leaves as compared with, for example, general
purpose telephone directories, city directories and the like, in
which each subdivision includes a large number of leaves.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a book comprising the present
invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the book as held in the act of
thumbing its leaves.
FIG. 3 is a plan view, partly broken away, illustrating the book in
fully opened position at a desired section.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
As herein disclosed, the invention is embodied in a pocket size
personal telephone directory or address book 10 having a front
cover 11, a back cover 12, and an assembly of consecutive leaves 13
between them. The covers are conventional, such as light, flexible
cardboard or the like, but the leaves are sheets of paper
containing parallel oriented fibers. All the sheets constituting
the leaves 13 are identical in size and composition, and, together
with the covers, are bound or fastened together along one marginal
edge zone by means here shown as a spiral ring binder 14.
The book leaves are arranged as a sequential series of sections
having different subject matter. Each section is composed of a
batch of consecutive leaves wherein the fibers 15 of each leaf are
oriented in a direction parallel to the turning axis of the leaves.
Due to this arrangement, the leaves of all the batches are equally
resilient and flexible. Each batch is separated from the next
following batch by the interposition of retardation means 16
constituted of a leaf identical to all the others in size and
composition, but with its fibers 17 oriented in a direction that is
transverse (preferably at a right angle) with respect to the
turning axis of the leaves. Orientation of the fibers 17 in this
direction serves, in effect, to make the retardation leaf less
flexible and resilient than the batch leaves 13 when the book is
thumbed with the leaves riffling either to the left or to the
right.
As shown in FIG. 3, the leading leaf 17 in each batch is provided
with individual batch identification indicia 18 located on its
first page face adjacent its outer (indexing) side edge and
preferably within an area deliniated by distinctive boundary lining
19. It so happens that in the particular type of book specifically
shown herein each indicia means 18 consists of one or more of the
letters of the alphabet, but it could, of course, be anything that
characterizes the content of a batch it identifies. As the various
indicia means are not visible in any respect before the book is
opened, they need not be in relative staggered or echelon relation,
and may conveniently be located at the same point on each index
page, in an easily seen position. As a matter of illustration, but
not limitation, the front cover 11 of the book here shown is
provided midway of its indexing side edge with a thumb guide cutout
20 below which the various indicia areas may be disposed in
registry therewith, with the boundary line 19 of each conforming to
the shape of the thumb guide cutout in the front cover.
MODE OF OPERATION
When the book is held as shown in FIG. 2, its leaves naturally
assume a convex curvature. This places them under tension and
imparts a spring bias, causing those at the right of the binder to
slide from beneath the thumb and flip over to the left of the
binder in the conventional manner of turning the pages of a book by
thumbing its leaves. In such operation the unbound (indexing) side
edges of the leaves slide beneath the thumb at a fairly uniform
rate of progression. However, when one of the retardation leaves 16
passes beneath the thumb its indexing edge, because of the spring
bias, is in greater frictional contact with the thumb than any of
the immediately preceding and following leaves. This greater
frictional contact imposes a drag which, although very slight and
of very short duration, is sufficient to retard the rate of
progression of the leaves enough to enable optical recognition of
the identification indicia on the next following leaf. If such
indicia signals that a desired batch section has been reached, a
slight increase of thumb pressure will stop further progression of
the leaves.
While the invention is principally adapted for use as an indexing
means for books, it also finds utility in animated booklets. A
series of photographs or cartoons in sequential order to depict
motion as well known in the art may be placed near a corner of each
of the leading leaves 17. When the book is then thumbed there will
be a retardation in the leaf turnover rate as each indexing leaf is
reached, thereby presenting the picture on the leading leaf for
momentary viewing. The overall effect of thumbing through the book
is one of character movement or animation similar to a motion
picture.
* * * * *