AU733114B2

AU733114B2 - Book holder

Info

Publication number: AU733114B2
Application number: AU95182/98A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Geoffrey Keating
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-12-03
Filing date: 1998-12-02
Publication date: 2001-05-10
Anticipated expiration: 2018-12-02
Also published as: AU9518298A

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE

SPECIFICATION

FOR A STANDARD

PATENT

(Original) APPLICATION

NO:

LODGED:

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

LODGED:

ACCEPTED:

PUBLISHED:

S

Se *55 *55 0 SS S

S.

C

*0 S NAME OF APPLICANT: ACTUAL INVENTOR(S): ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: INVENTION

TITLE:

GEOFFREY

KEATING

APPLICANT

LORD COMPANY Patent Trade Mark Attorneys 4 Douro Place West Perth, Western Australia, 6005

AUSTRALIA.

"BOOK HOLDER" DETAILS OF ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION

NO'S:

Australian Provisional Patent Application Number PP0675 filed on December 3, 1997.

The following Statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 2 The present invention relates to a book holder.

It is known to provide a device which holds books and marks pages. The simplest device is perhaps the well known rectangular card book mark which is inserted between the desired pages.

US Patent number 5056663 relates to an adjustable book cover that has folded over top and bottom edges secured in place by the use of hook and loop fabric fasteners or an adhesive strip which are tensioned at the side edges by use of elastic material.

US Patent number 5622387 relates to a book mark adapted for extending downward along the binding of the book and having an outwardly extending bracket which holds •0 a. an elastic binding encircling the covers of the book and biassing the covers closed oaround the body.

Japanese Patent number 8132760 relates to a page restraining tool consisting of a strap "0.0 encircling the left wrapper of a book cover, and a right wrapper provided with a load 0 pipe into which a length of pipe is inserted. A suppression device extends from the 0 i5D pipe along the upper and lower edges to press the pages of the book open.

Although such devices may be successful in marking a particular page in a book and S- protecting the book cover, they do not provide sufficient support to the book and restraining pressure to the pages to maintain the book in an open position. Used in an outdoor environment they cannot withstand the effects of wind closing the book or flicking the pages. Neither will they prevent the book from closing if it is dropped or knocked. Devices of the prior art have an added disadvantage in that the reader must use both hands to hold the book in an open position.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a book holder which includes a support base with an attachment and tensioning means connected to at least one strap for restraining, in use, the pages of a book, the restraining strap or straps extending, in use, across the support base, and being attached to a holding clamp arranged, in use, to engage with an edge of the support base.

The book holder of the present invention allows the reader to read a book without using his or her hands to hold the book open and apply pressure to restrain the pages.

SS The book holder is an aid for people who do not have sufficient strength and flexibility in their wrists and hands to hold books open for prolonged periods of time. Such a group of people comprises diverse sections of the community including the disabled, .9 the elderly, arthritis sufferers, patients with temporarily immobilised forearms and young children.

6@ 0• The book holder of the present invention is also of benefit to people who consult S instruction manuals, for example recipe books or car repair manuals, whilst engaged in certain activities. Repeated consultation of the required information on the page is easily accessed without the user needing to suspend frequently his or her activities to Sopen the book to the required pages.

The book holder of the present invention is also suited to the use of books outside during leisure and recreational periods. The user can read while doing other activities which requires using his or her hands such as drinking, eating or answering phones.

The action of breezes and drafts will not close the book or flick the pages if the device is used to hold the book and restrain its pages. This is of clear benefit to outdoor users, especially to scorers at sports games.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a book holder of the present invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the book holder of the present invention; and Figure 3 is a side view of the book holder of Figures 1 and 2.

S-Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3 there is shown a book holder 10 in accordance with the S. present invention. The book holder 10 includes a support base 11, an attachment and I.Q tensioning means 12, at least one restraining strap 13 and a holding clamp 14.

The support base 11 is substantially rectangular. The support base has an upper planar member 40 with an upper surface 23 and a lower body member 30. The upper planar member 40 of the support base 11 is larger than a lower body member 30 of the °support base 11 such that there is a side overhang. The support base 11 has a distal S end 21 of greater height than a proximal end 22 such that the upper surface 23 of the •OQ support base 11 is inclined towards the reader in use.

The attachment and tensioning means 12 is attached to the underside of the upper planar member of the support base 11 and adjacent to an edge 30 of the support base 11 which extends from the distal end 21 to a proximal end 22 of the upper planar member 40 of the support base 11. The attachment and tensioning means 12 is in the form of a longitudinal rod. The attachment and tensioning means 12 extends parallel to the edge 30. It is envisaged that the attachment and tensioning means 12 will be constructed of plastic, wood or metallic material and may be attached to the support base in the way described by various kinds of attachment means including, but not limited to screws, rivets or adhesives.

One end of each of the restraining straps 13 is attached to the attachment and tensioning means 12. Each of the restraining straps 13 is threaded through an aperture in the upper planar member 40 of the support base 11 which is positioned immediately above the attachment and tensioning means 12 The opposite end of each "o of the restraining straps 13 is attached to the holding clamp 14. The restraining straps 13 are formed of elastomeric material. It is envisaged that in further embodiments of the present invention the restraining straps 13 may be formed of substantially "0 transparent material.

The holding clamp 14 is a bracket that engages with the side overhang of the upper planar member 40 of the support base 11 at an edge 31 thereof which separates a distal °end 21 and a proximal end 22 of the upper planar member 40 of the support base 11 C. and is directly opposite to the edge 30. The holding clamp 14 extends parallel to the @050 edge 31 when it is engaged with the edge 31. When the holding clamp 14 is clamped C to the edge 31, the restraining straps 13 extend in parallel with one another between the attachment and tensioning means 12 and holding clamp 14.

In use, an open book is placed on the upper surface 23 if the upper planar member of the support base 11 and the restraining straps 13 are extended over both pages of the book by means of engaging the holding clamp 14 with the side overhang of the Ge Gd ar

CG

C C Ge

G

SC

eeo support base 11. Sufficient tension is supplied by the restraining straps 13 to restrain the pages and hold the book open.

The tension exerted on the pages will vary depending on the size of the book being held. In further embodiments of the present invention the attachment and tensioning means 12 will have a knob which can be turned to vary the tension in the restraining straps 13. The attachment and tensioning means 12 is axially rotatable so as to wind the restraining straps 13 therearound to vary tension in the restraining straps 13. The knob will extend from one end of the attachment and tensioning means 12. Its rotational axis will be along the length of the attachment and tensioning means 12.

In yet further embodiments of the present invention the support base 11 will include a universal joint attachment on the underside of the upper planar member 40 of the support base 11. This will allow flexible pipe fittings to be connected to the universal joint such that the pipes may be inserted into outdoor surfaces (eg. beach sand, playing fields). An adjustable height stand with universal joint fittings to the lower surface of the support base 11 will allow a height, position, or angle adjustment suitable for the reader.

In further embodiments of the present invention the support base will be expandable and adjustable to the size of various books.

Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to the skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A book holder which includes a support base with an attachment and tensioning means connected to at least one strap for restraining, in use, the pages of a book, the restraining strap or straps extending, in use, across the support base, and being attached to a holding clamp arranged, in use, to engage with an edge of the support base.

2. A book holder according to claim 1, wherein the support base has a upper 14 planar member with an upper surface and a lower body member, the upper planar member being larger than the body member of the support base such that there is a side overhang. 4

3. A book holder according to claim 2, wherein the holding clamp is arranged, in

4.

5 use, to engage with the side overhang. 4. A book holder according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the support base has a distal o end of greater height than a proximal end such that, in use, the upper surface of the upper planar member of the support base is inclined towards a user. A book holder according to claim 4, wherein the attachment and tensioning means is a longitudinal rod extending parallel and adjacent to an edge between the distal end and the proximal end of the support base. 8

6. A book holder according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the attachment and tensioning means is mounted on an underside of the upper planar member, the upper planar member including at least one aperture through which the restraining strap or straps connected to the attachment and tensioning means is threaded.

7. A book holder according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the attachment and tensioning means is axially rotatable so as to wind the restraining strap or straps therearound to vary tension in the restraining strap or straps. a e* 1) 00.00

8. A book holder according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the 'J restraining strap or straps are formed ofelastomeric material. S

9. A book holder according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the restraining strap or straps are substantially transparent.

10. A book holder substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED THIS 1 s T DAY OF DECEMBER 1998. GEOFFREY KEATING By his Patent Attorneys LORD COMPANY PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA.