GB2055691A - Page holder - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for holding the pages of a book in the open position comprises a pair of opposed page holders 13 interconnected by a fixed or adjustable connecting member 17. The page holders may be transparent. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Page holder This invention relates to a device for holding the pages of an open book in position.

When a person wishes to read a book he opens the book at the relevant page and generally has to hold the pages back with one or both hands to stop the pages turning over due to the natural forces of the paper and binding of the book to close. This obviously is an awkward situation for persons who may wish to use their hands for other purposes whilst reading a book, such as a student studying and wishing to make notes from the book. Invalids may also suffer from not being able to hold a book open at a desired page.

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a device for holding the pages of a book open.

In its broadest form the invention provides a device for holding the pages of a book open comprising at least one pair of opposed page holding means, interconnected by a member.

The interconnecting member may be pivotably hinged to allow it to be folded into a more compact size for storage.

Instead of, or additional to, pivotal hinging of the interconnecting member, the member may be divided into two portions which are slidingly adjustable to each other to vary the separation between the page holding members.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a plan view of an open book having the pages held open by a device in accordance with the preferred form of the invention; Figure 2 is an end elevation of Fig. 1; Figure 3 is an elevational view of the apparatus of one form of the invention; Figure 4 is a view of the apparatus of Fig. 3 in its folded disposition; and Figure 5 is a view of a further form of the invention.

A book 11 open at its desired pages 1 6 has the pages 1 6 held open by means of a pair of opposed page retaining members 13, applied to the pages of the book.

The page retaining members 1 3 are preferably formed of a transparent, resilient type material such as perspex, alternatively a sheet spring would be suitable.

The members 1 3 are interconnected by means of interconnected member of portion 1 7. As shown in Fig. 2 the interconnecting member is one continuous piece interconnect ing the pair of members 1 3. This form of the device is suitable to be used with a fixed type of book such as the popular paperback editions.

As shown in Fig. 3 the page retaining members 13' and 13" are hingeably connected 1 5 and can be folded into a mating relationship as shown in Fig. 4. This provides for a more compact form of the invention.

As shown in Fig. 5, the two page retaining members 1 3 may be slidably interconnected by having the interconnecting member split into two portions 17' and 1 7". This allows the device to be suitable for a wide range of book sizes.

The interconnecting members 17' and 17" may be simply joined by loops 1 4 or by a track-slide type arrangement.

Furthermore, the apparatus of Fig. 5 could be hinged at a suitable point on one of the members 17' or 17" to allow for folding of the apparatus.

1. A device for holding the pages of a book open comprising at least one pair of opposed page holding means interconnected by a member.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the interconnecting member comprises two parts, one of which parts is connected to one page holding means, said members being pivotably connected.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the interconnecting member comprises two members slidably connected such that the separation distance of the two opposed page holding means may be varied.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the page holding means comprise resilient transparent members adapted to hold the pages of a book in position.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Page holder This invention relates to a device for holding the pages of an open book in position. When a person wishes to read a book he opens the book at the relevant page and generally has to hold the pages back with one or both hands to stop the pages turning over due to the natural forces of the paper and binding of the book to close. This obviously is an awkward situation for persons who may wish to use their hands for other purposes whilst reading a book, such as a student studying and wishing to make notes from the book. Invalids may also suffer from not being able to hold a book open at a desired page. It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a device for holding the pages of a book open. In its broadest form the invention provides a device for holding the pages of a book open comprising at least one pair of opposed page holding means, interconnected by a member. The interconnecting member may be pivotably hinged to allow it to be folded into a more compact size for storage. Instead of, or additional to, pivotal hinging of the interconnecting member, the member may be divided into two portions which are slidingly adjustable to each other to vary the separation between the page holding members. The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a plan view of an open book having the pages held open by a device in accordance with the preferred form of the invention; Figure 2 is an end elevation of Fig. 1; Figure 3 is an elevational view of the apparatus of one form of the invention; Figure 4 is a view of the apparatus of Fig. 3 in its folded disposition; and Figure 5 is a view of a further form of the invention. A book 11 open at its desired pages 1 6 has the pages 1 6 held open by means of a pair of opposed page retaining members 13, applied to the pages of the book. The page retaining members 1 3 are preferably formed of a transparent, resilient type material such as perspex, alternatively a sheet spring would be suitable. The members 1 3 are interconnected by means of interconnected member of portion 1 7. As shown in Fig. 2 the interconnecting member is one continuous piece interconnect ing the pair of members 1 3. This form of the device is suitable to be used with a fixed type of book such as the popular paperback editions. As shown in Fig. 3 the page retaining members 13' and 13" are hingeably connected 1 5 and can be folded into a mating relationship as shown in Fig. 4. This provides for a more compact form of the invention. As shown in Fig. 5, the two page retaining members 1 3 may be slidably interconnected by having the interconnecting member split into two portions 17' and 1 7". This allows the device to be suitable for a wide range of book sizes. The interconnecting members 17' and 17" may be simply joined by loops 1 4 or by a track-slide type arrangement. Furthermore, the apparatus of Fig. 5 could be hinged at a suitable point on one of the members 17' or 17" to allow for folding of the apparatus. CLAIMS

1. A device for holding the pages of a book open comprising at least one pair of opposed page holding means interconnected by a member.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the interconnecting member comprises two parts, one of which parts is connected to one page holding means, said members being pivotably connected.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the interconnecting member comprises two members slidably connected such that the separation distance of the two opposed page holding means may be varied.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the page holding means comprise resilient transparent members adapted to hold the pages of a book in position.