Highlighter strips

Abstract

A first strip of material having a front surface and a rear surface, with an adhesive located on the rear surface is provided for use as a printed text highlighter. The first strip of material is typically transparent, elongated, and colored. A similar second strip may be provided connected to the first strip of material and the first strip of material can be separated from the second strip of material. A container for storing and distributing the first strip of material, is also provided. The container may include a plurality of compartments each containing strips of material of a different color.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to improved methods and apparatus concerning highlighting printed material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Typically in the prior art markers are used to highlight printed material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, in one or more embodiments, provides an apparatus comprising a first strip of material, for use as a text highlighter, having a front surface and a rear surface, with an adhesive located on the rear surface. The first strip of material is typically transparent, elongated, and colored. The first strip of material can be placed over printed text, wherein the printed text is printed on a tangible medium, so that the printed text can be seen through the first strip of material, and the rear surface of the first strip of material adheres to the tangible medium. The first strip of material may have dimensions of one to two inches in length and ⅛ to {fraction (1/4)} inch in width.

A second strip of material may be provided, having a front surface and a rear surface, with an adhesive located on the rear surface. The second strip of material may also be transparent, elongated, and colored. The second strip of material can also be placed over the printed text, so that the printed text can be seen through the second strip of material, and the rear surface of the second strip of material adheres to the tangible medium. The second strip of material may be connected to the first strip of material and the first strip of material can be separated from the second strip of material. The first strip of material may be about the same size as the second strip of material. The first strip of material may be connected to the second strip of material by a perforated portion.

A container for storing and distributing the first strip of material, is also provided. The container has a top surface, which includes a first slot through which the first strip of material can be pulled. The first slot has a sharp or serrated edge, which allows the first strip of material to be separated from a second strip of material. The container may include a plurality of compartments each containing strips of material of a different color.

The present invention also includes a method comprising the steps of providing a first strip of material as specified and placing the first strip of material over printed text in a tangible medium, so that the printed text can be seen through the first strip of material, and the rear surface of the first strip of material adheres to the tangible medium.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shows a front view of a strip of material for use in highlighting printed text;

FIG. 1B shows a rear view of the strip of material of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2A shows a front view of a paper with printed text;

FIG. 2B shows a front view of the strip of material of FIG. 1A placed over some of the printed text on the paper of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3 shows a front view of a plurality of strips of material of equal size, connected together by perforated portions;

FIG. 4 shows a front view of a continuous strip of material for use in highlighting printed text;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of an apparatus for storing and distributing strips of pieces of material for use in highlighting printed text; and

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 5 with various pieces of material shown protruding through appropriate slots in the apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shows a front view of a strip 10 of material for use in highlighting printed text. The strip 10 may be a transparent material such as a transparent plastic or cellophane. The strip 10 may have a front surface 12 shown in FIG. 1A. The strip 10 may be a color typically used for marker highlighters. For example, the strip 10 may be colored entirely yellow, green, blue, purple, pink, or orange.

FIG. 1B shows a rear view of the strip 10 of material of FIG. 1A. The strip 10 includes a rear surface 14. The rear surface 14 may include an adhesive. A weak clear adhesive may be used on rear surface 14, such as is used on Postit (trademarked) Notes.

FIG. 2A shows a front view of a paper 100. The paper 100 has a front surface 102 on which is located printed text, which states “THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF PRINTED WORDS”. FIG. 2B shows a front view of the strip 10 of material of FIG. 1A placed over some of the printed text 104 on the paper 100 of FIG. 2A. The strip 10 is placed so that the adhesive on the rear surface 14 adheres to the front surface 102 of the paper 100. In FIG. 2B, the strip 10 has been placed over the words or phrase “OF PRINTED”. The words or phrase “OF PRINTED” can be seen through the transparent strip 10.

FIG. 3 shows a front view of a plurality 200 of strips of material of equal size, connected together by perforated portions. The plurality 200 includes strips 202, 204, and 206. Strip 202 is connected to strip 204 by perforated portion 202a. Strip 204 is connected to strip 206 by perforated portion 204a. The perforated portion 202a allows the strip 202 to be easily pulled apart and separated from the strip 204. The perforated portion 204a allows the strip 206 to be easily pulled apart and separated from the strip 204.

FIG. 4 shows a front view of a continuous strip 300 of material for use in highlighting printed text.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of an apparatus 400 for storing and distributing strips or pieces of material for use in highlighting printed text. The apparatus 400 includes sections 402, 404, 406, 408, 410, and 412. Different colored strips of material are stored in each of sections 402, 404, 406, 408, 410, and 412. For example section 402 may contain green strips only, section 404 may contain light blue strips only, section 406 may contain purple strips only, section 408 may contain pink strips only, section 410 may contain yellow strips only, and section 412 may contain dark blue strips only.

Each of sections 402, 404, 406, 408, 410, and 412 may be a closed compartment or chamber, with the exception of slots located at the top of the section. Section 402 may have a top surface 402c in which are located slots 402a and 402b. A continuous strip 403a of green material, similar to 300 in FIG. 4, may be pulled through the slot 402a as shown in FIG. 6. The slot 402a may have at least one sharp or serrated edge so that the strip 403a can be cut on the sharp edge of the slot 402a. A plurality of strips 403b of green material, similar to 200 in FIG. 3, may be pulled through the slot 402b as shown in FIG. 6. The slot 402b may have a sharp or serrated edge, which aids in the separation of one strip from the plurality of strips 403b.

Similarly, sections 404, 406, 408, 410, and 412 may have slots 404a-b, 406a-b, 408a-b, 410a-b, and 412a-b respectively, located in top surfaces 404c, 406c, 408c, 410c, and 412c, respectively. Continuous strips 405a, 407a, 409a, 411a, and 413a of light blue, purple, pink, yellow, and dark blue, respectively, of material similar to 300 in FIG. 4, may be pulled through slots 404a, 406a, 408a, 410a, and 412a as shown in FIG. 6. The slots 404a, 406a, 408a, 410a, and 412a may have at least one sharp or serrated edge so that the strips can be cut on the sharp or serrated edge of the appropriate slot. A plurality 405b, 407b, 409b, 411b, and 413b of strips of light blue, purple, pink, yellow, and dark blue, respectively, of material, similar to 200 in FIG. 3, may be pulled through the slots 404b, 406b, 408b, 410b, and 412b, respectively, as shown in FIG. 6. The slots 404b, 406b, 408b, 410b, and 412b may have at least one sharp or serrated edge, which aids in the separation of one strip from the plurality of strips 405b, 407b, 409b, 411b, and 413b, respectively.

The strips of material 200 and 300 work best when used to highlight black or dark text ink. The strips 202, 204, and 206 each may be elongated and each may have the same length, which may be one to two inches. The strips 202, 204, and 206 may each have the same width, which may be ⅛ to ¼ of an inch.

Although the invention has been described by reference to particular illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of the invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to include within this patent all such changes and modifications as may reasonably and properly be included within the scope of the present invention's contribution to the art.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first strip of material having a front surface and a rear surface, with an adhesive located on the rear surface;

wherein the first strip of material is transparent, elongated, and colored;

and wherein the first strip of material can be placed over printed text, wherein the printed text is printed on a tangible medium, so that the printed text can be seen through the first strip of material, and the rear surface of the first strip of material adheres to the tangible medium.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the first strip of material has a length of between one and two inches and a width of between one eighth and one quarter of an inch.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising

a second strip of material having a front surface and a rear surface, with an adhesive located on the rear surface;

wherein the second strip of material is transparent, elongated, and colored;

and wherein the second strip of material can be placed over the printed text, so that the printed text can be seen through the second strip of material, and the rear surface of the second strip of material adheres to the tangible medium;

and wherein the second strip of material is connected to the first strip of material and the first strip of material can be separated from the second strip of material.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein

the first strip of material is about the same size as the second strip of material.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein

the first strip of material is connected to the second strip of material by a perforated portion.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising

a container for storing and distributing the first strip of material.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein

the container has a top surface, which includes a first slot through which the first strip of material can be pulled.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein

the first slot has a sharp edge, which allows the first strip of material to be separated from a second strip of material.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein

a second strip of material having a front surface and a rear surface, with an adhesive located on the rear surface;

wherein the second strip of material is transparent, elongated, and colored;

and wherein the second strip of material can be placed over printed text, wherein the printed text is printed on a tangible medium, so that the printed text can be seen through the second strip of material, and the rear surface of the second strip of material adheres to the tangible medium; and wherein

the container includes a first compartment in which is located the first strip of material and a second compartment in which is located the second strip of material;

and wherein the first strip of material is a different color from the second strip of material.

10. A method comprising the steps of:

providing a first strip of material having a front surface and a rear surface, with an adhesive located on the rear surface;

wherein the first strip of material is transparent, elongated, and colored;

and further comprising placing the first strip of material over printed text, wherein the printed text is printed on a tangible medium, so that the printed text can be seen through the first strip of material, and the rear surface of the first strip of material adheres to the tangible medium.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein

the first strip of material has a length of between one and two inches and a width between one eighth and one quarter of an inch.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising

providing a second strip of material having a front surface and a rear surface, with an adhesive located on the rear surface;

wherein the second strip of material is transparent, elongated, and colored;

placing the second strip of material over the printed text, so that the printed text can be seen through the second strip of material, and the rear surface of the second strip of material adheres to the tangible medium;

and wherein the second strip of material is connected to the first strip of material and the first strip of material can be separated from the second strip of material.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein

the first strip of material is about the same size as the second strip of material.

14. The method apparatus 12 wherein

the first strip of material is connected to the second strip of material by a perforated portion.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising

providing a container for storing and distributing the first strip of material.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein

the container has a top surface, which includes a first slot through which the first strip of material can be pulled.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein

the first slot has a sharp edge, which allows the first strip of material to be separated from a second strip of material.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising

providing a second strip of material having a front surface and a rear surface, with an adhesive located on the rear surface;

wherein the second strip of material is transparent, elongated, and colored;

placing the second strip of material over printed text, wherein the printed text is printed on a tangible medium, so that the printed text can be seen through the second strip of material, and the rear surface of the second strip of material adheres to the tangible medium; and wherein

the container includes a first compartment in which is located the first strip of material and a second compartment in which is located the second strip of material;

and wherein the first strip of material is a different color from the second strip of material.