EP1115308A1

EP1115308A1 - Method of using an open book securing device for hands-free reading of an open book

Info

Publication number: EP1115308A1
Application number: EP99930635A
Authority: EP
Inventors: David Vincent Ainsworth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-06-25
Filing date: 1999-06-25
Publication date: 2001-07-18

Abstract

A platform assembly is provided with a platform (21) and a raised edge (22) at the bottom against which a bottom edge of the open book (29) rests. A securing device (10) is installed on the platform (21) by sliding the securing device (10) over the upper side edges of the platform (21). The securing device (10) comprises prongs that engage front and back covers of an open book (29) to secure the book (29) in an open orientation. A selected page of the open book (29) to the platform (21). The open book (29) is positioned such that rounded tabs (23) of the platform (21) and the restraining wheels of the securing device (10) maintain the pages of the book (29) is turned by applying manual pressure with one or more fingers in a direction of the turn such that the selected page slides free from a first restraining wheel and a first rounded tab (23). The selected page is then positioned behind the second restraining wheel and the second rounded tab (23).

Description

THE DESCRIPTION

Method of using an open book securing device for hands-free reading of an open book 1.

2. Technical Field The technical field to which the invention relates is that of mechanical supports or supporting devices.

3. Background Art The precise background art which would be useful for the understanding, searching and examination ofthe invention is unknown to the applicant.

4. Brief Description of Drawings Figures 1 through 4 comprise the drawings.

Figure 1 is a perspective view ofthe invention mounted on the platform or slant-board and carrying stand assembly, showing the embodiment ofthe method of holding an open book in a range of positions relative to a reader. Figure 2 is a bottom plan, cross-sectional view ofthe invention showing the invention mounted on the face ofthe platform assembly with the page-restraining wheels or tabs mounted on a shaft projecting upward from the face of the invention. Figure 3 is a front elevational view ofthe invention, showing the face ofthe page-restraining wheels or tabs as well as the prongs projecting from the bottom ofthe invention to grip the inside front and rear covers of a book binding. Figure 4 is a right side elevational view ofthe invention mounted on the platform assembly in the preferred embodiment ofthe method of this invention in holding an open book, hands-free within a 180 degree range of positions from the horizontal, face-up, through the horizontal, facedown.

5. Detailed Disclosure and Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Referring to Fig. 1 , there is illustrated an open book securing device 10 (the

"invention"). The purpose ofthe invention is to provide a hands-free method, when used in connection with a platform 21 (Figs. 2,4) or a platform and stand assembly 50, of holding an open book within a range of comfortable eye-focus for persons sitting, inclined or lying down, face-up. The further purpose ofthe invention is to permit a page of a book so secured to be readily turned, forward or backward, in a conventional manner with the fingers ofthe hand.

In order to accomplish these purposes, the invention 10 must be used in connection with methods and devices which are prior art, namely (i) a rotating platform or slant-board assembly 20 to which the invention is attached by hooks and which is attached to a horizontal arm, (ii) a horizontal arm 28 (Fig. 4) which may or may not be of a telescoping or sliding construction making the length ofthe arm adjustable and attached to a vertical column, (iϋ) a vertical column 30 which may or may not have a telescoping or sliding construction making the height ofthe horizontal arm adjustable and attached to a base, and (iv) a base 40 with or without rollers making the assembly moveable. When positioned in front of a reader, the platform assembly 20 to which the invention 10 is attached may be rotated up to 180 degrees around the horizontal arm 28, that is, from face up to face down. Fig. 4.

Referring to Figure 4, the platform or slant-board assembly will have a raised edge

22 at the bottom or lower edge ofthe platform from to which tabs 23 are affixed opposing the wheels or tabs 15 (Figs. 2, 3) on the inventioa See also Figs. 1 and 4. The lower tabs

23 restrain the lower edges of open pages of a book while the wheels or tabs 15 (Figs. 2,3) on the invention restrain the upper edges ofthe open page.

The invention itself 10 consists of a bar 11 on which two hooks 12, two prongs 13, two shaft-mounted wheel or tab arrangements 14,15,16 are mounted. The bar 11 has at least one flat side to slide along the face ofthe platform when in position. Hooks 12 are affixed at each end ofthe bar 11 with the open part ofthe hooks facing each other along the flat side ofthe bar. (Fig. 2) The bar 11 with hooks 12 attached is long enough to span the width ofthe platform or slant-board 21. In this position, the flat side ofthe bar 11 slides up and down along the face ofthe platform or slant-board 21 but the bar remains secured to the platform/board by the hooks 12 on the inventioa The prongs 13 are mounted on the bar 11 approximately one-third ofthe distance from each end ofthe bar, but in any event within the span ofthe front and back covers of an open book. Each prong 13 extends downward and parallel to the flat side ofthe bar 11. Figs. 2,3,4. Approximately the same distance from the end ofthe bar 11 as, but slightly offset from, the prongs 3, there is a shaft 14 installed perpendicular to the flat side on the bar 11. A wheel or tab 15 is secured in place along the shaft 14 by opposing springs so that the distance from the platform face 21 and the wheel or tab 15 is approximately the thickness of a book. Figs. 2,4. The radius ofthe wheel or tab 15 is greater than the width ofthe bar through which the shaft 14 passes, permitting the pages to which the book is opened to be restrained behind the wheels on the invention when the bar is resting on the top edge of the open book. Figs. 3,4. The invention 10 thus assembled is installed on the platform 21 ofthe stand assembly 50 described above with the hooks 12 on either end ofthe bar 11 sliding over the upper side edges ofthe platform 21. So installed, the invention permits an open book 29 to be placed on the platform below the invention with the prongs 13 ofthe invention sliding down over the inside ofthe front and back covers ofthe book 29 until the bar 11 touches the book, thus securing the open book 29 to the platform assembly 20. Fig. 4. The pages to which the book 29 is opened are then restrained by placing the upper edge of each open page behind the corresponding wheel 15 on the invention 10 and the lower edge of each open page behind the corresponding rounded tab 22 fixed to the raised edge 23 on the bottom ofthe platform 21. Fig. 4.

Referring to Figure 4, the book is thereby held securely to the platform assembly 20 and the pages are thereby held open as the platform assembly 20 is rotated up to 180 degrees between the horizontal, face-up, through the horizontal, face-down. The pages of the book, regardless ofthe inclination ofthe platform onto which the invention is mounted through its 180 degree arc will remain open and may be turned sequentially in either direction by a conventional movement ofthe fingers of one hand. That is, the page to be turned is held at its edge and pushed toward the other side ofthe book. The force ofthe push causes the turning page to slip free ofthe restraining lower rounded tab 23 fixed to the raised edge 22 at the bottom ofthe platform 21 and the wheel 15 on the invention restraining the top ofthe turning page. The turning motion continues with the hand and is completed by pushing the upper and lower edges ofthe turned page behind the restraining wheel 15 and tab 23 on the opposing side, after which the book will remain open, hands- free, at the new page setting.

The platform assembly 20 is hinged to the horizontal arm 21 and a hinged locking arm 24 mounted on a box channel 26 which is, in turn, secured to the horizontal arm by slides 27 installed on the inside ofthe box channel 26 and on the horizontal arm 28. Refer to Fig. 4. The channel box 26 with mounted slide components 27 is constructed to fit securely over the horizontal arm with its mounted slide components 28. This permits the weight ofthe platform assembly 20, together with the weight of a book mounted on the platform assembly 29, to slide freely, overcoming the torque ofthe off-center platform assembly and book. Refer to Figs. 1 and 4.

The invention, then, when used in connection with prior art in the form of a book supporting platform or slant-board for desk-top or table-top use, and, as a preferred method of use, with prior art in the form of a mobile and adjustable supporting floor standing assembly, permits each reader to achieve the most ergonomically desirable reading position which uniquely maximizes comfort in the neck, back and arms for that reader.

Claims

1. A method of holding an open book in any of a 180 degree range of positions from the horizontal, face-up to the horizontal, face-down, as desired by a person reading the book, comprising:

(a) the invention, characterized by a bar with one at least one flat side on which two hooks, two prongs and two shaft-mounted wheel or tab arrangements are mounted. The hooks are secured to a flat side ofthe bar at each end, with the open part ofthe hooks facing each other along the flat side ofthe bar. The bar is long enough to span the width ofthe platform or slant-board described below. The hooks fit over the side edges ofthe platform board and the flat side ofthe bar touches and slides up and down along the upper surface ofthe platform/board. There are two prongs which are mounted on the bar and project downward perpendicular to the long direction ofthe bar. The prongs are located equidistant from the ends ofthe bar and far enough apart to fall within the span ofthe front and back covers of an open book resting on the platform/board and are long enough to reach over or "grab" the inside surface ofthe front and back covers of a book when open and resting on the platform/board. Adjacent to the each prong, a shaft is installed perpendicular to the flat side ofthe bar and projecting through the bar. On each shaft, a wheel or tab is mounted with the flat dimension parallel to the flat dimension ofthe bar. The wheel or tab is secured along the projecting shaft so that the flat dimension ofthe wheel or tab is approximately the thickness of a book away from the surface ofthe platform or slant-board on which the book rests and on which the invention is mounted.

(b) using the invention in connection with prior art consisting of a stand assembly characterized by (i) a base, which may or may not be on rollers, and (if) a vertical column attached to and projecting upward from the base, which column may or may not be of a telescoping or sliding construction, and (ϋi) a horizontal arm at the top of and attached to the vertical column, which horizontal arm may or may not be of a telescoping or sliding construction to provide for adjustable horizontal positioning, and (iv) a platform or slant-board assembly secured to the horizontal arm, which platform assembly rotates up to 180 degrees around the horizontal arm from the horizontal, face-up, through the vertical, and to the horizontal, face-down positions, or (v) a stand-alone desk-top or table- top platform or slant-board consisting of a flat surface with a raised edge to support an open book in a vertical or inclined position and with tabs projecting upward from the raised edge at the bottom to restrain the lower edges of pages of an open book so installed and with an adjustable stand or leg permitting the platform board to be inclined at any angle from 0 to 90 degrees from the horizontal All of which method of use and prior art is more fully described in subparagraphs (1) through (6) below.

(1) installing the invention on the platform/slant-board assembly by sliding the end hooks ofthe invention over the upper side edges ofthe platform with the flat side of the bar ofthe invention against the surface ofthe platform board and prongs on the invention pointing down;

(2) placing an open book face-up on the platform with the invention positioned at the top ofthe book and the lower edge ofthe book resting on a raised edge at the lower side ofthe platform;

(3) sliding the prongs which extend from the lower edge ofthe invention down over the inner sides ofthe front and back covers ofthe open book:

(4) positioning the upper edge of each desired open page behind a wheel or tab mounted on the shaft assembly ofthe invention;

(5) adjusting the position ofthe platform assembly to which the book is secured by the invention to any desired position by (a) if on wheels, moving the base of the stand assembly to any desired position, (b) if adjustable, raising the vertical column to any desired height, (c) if adjustable, extending the platform assembly along the horizontal arm to any desired position, and (d) rotating the platform on which the invention is mounted to any position along an arc of 180 degrees from face-up to face down (in the direction ofthe reader) around the axis provided by the horizontal arm on the stand assembly;

(6) turning the pages ofthe book positioned at any angle described in step (5) above in a conventional manner, that is, applying one or more fingers of one hand to the top or side ofthe page being turned, applying manual pressure with the fingers in the direction ofthe turn so that the page being turned slides free ofthe restraining wheel on the invention and the rounded tab on the raised edge on the bottom ofthe platform to which the invention is mounted. The upper and lower edges ofthe turned page are then positioned behind the wheel and tab on the opposite side.