GB2152810A

GB2152810A - Stowable support for books and the like

Info

Publication number: GB2152810A
Application number: GB08501360A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Harvey E Diamond
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-01-20
Filing date: 1985-01-18
Publication date: 1985-08-14
Also published as: BE901531A; IT8547566A1; ES292793U; IT8547566A0; FR2558356A1; GB8501360D0; GB2152810B; IT1182130B; ES292793Y; AU565216B2; AU3778985A; JPS60203204A; DE3501082A1

Abstract

A foldable book support comprises a rotatable vertical stem (12) an arm (14) pivotted thereto and bearing rotatably and lockable, by a lock nut (18), an extension (16) which is attached by a bracket (18) to one edge of a book rest (22). The bracket (18) is slidable by its tongue (21) in a groove (24) within the book rest, and an extension ofthe bracket passes beneath the book rest and is slidably engaged in a rod (28) attached at its ends to the underside of the book rest, which is made in two parts foldably hinged (26) together. From a compact stored position shown in broken line in Fig. 1, the book support is opened by pivotting the folded rest 22 and arm 14, 16 upward, and rotating them upon the stem 12; the arm extension 16 is pulled out and rotated as desired, and the support is adjusted to a suitable height by sliding the bracket 18 on the rod 28. The support may be folded into the wall of an enclosure 40. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Stowable support for books and the like The invention relates to a means for the compact stowing of a folded support, e.g. for books and the like, when not in use, and to the unfolding thereof, to provide a rigid support in any one of a number of possible positions, from the compact stowed position.

More particularly, the invention provides a book support having a four-way movement from an initial compact stowed position wherein the support means and its associated mechanisms all lie essentially in a single plane, to a position wherein the support means can be adjusted four ways: (1) rotationally and (2) vertically about a given horizontal axis, (3) laterally with respect to a given vertical axis, and (4) rotationally with respect to that given vertical axis.

According to the invention we provide a stowable:supportfor books and the like, which comprises: a rotatable stem; an arm pivotally attached to said stem whereby said arm can be moved from a horizontal position to a vertical position and thereafter rotated to any desired position about the longitudinal axis of said stem means; a support means for a book or the like attached to said arm, said support means being rotatably moveable about the longitudinal axis of said arm to adjust the angular relationship of support means to a desired plane of support with respect to said arm; a first locking means for locking the support means to said arm in said desired angular relationship; and a second means to allow said support means to be moved generally upwardly and downwardly along said desired plane of support relative to said arm to a desired level.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the stowable support in user positions, the stowed position being shown in phantom; and Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of figure 1 The stowable support is designated, generally, by the numeral 10 and comprises an upstanding rotatable stem 12, an arm 14 connected to said stem 12, an arm extension 16 co-axially extending from said arm 14 and being rotatable therein and laterally extendable therefrom. A knurled lock ring 18 of conventional construction locks arm extension 16 in any desired angular and lateral relationship to the arm 14.

Arm extension 16 is provided at its outer end with a bracket means 20 for holding a planar support 22.

The bracket means 20 has a tongue 21 slideably extending into a complementary tract or groove 24 formed along one side of support 22 whereby to enable the support 22 to move along the plane of the axis of the groove 24, as indicated by arrows A-A1. The planar support means 22 is hinged at the upper and lower ends thereof, by conventional hinges 26 and the support 22 is thereby foldable in half along the hinge line 27.

The bracket means 20 extends within the groove 24 beneath a portion of the support 22 and, together with a rod 28 transversely passing through the distal end 20a of the bracket means, provides a skeletal framework for the support 22. The upper and lower ends of rod 281erminate within blocks 32 of plastic, wood or metal, these blocks abutting the underside of support means 22 and being adhesively, or otherwise, affixed thereto.

The stowable support is made preferably primarily of plastic.

The stowable support 10 is shown, in figure 1, stowed between walls 40, as for example, the walls of an enclosure built into a molded bathtub, piece of furniture, bed, etc.

In the initial stowage position, shown in broken line in figure 1, the support means 22, the arm extension 16 and arm 14, and the stem 12 all lie essentially in a single plane. Further, the arm, its extension and the support itself all lie in the stowed position, at a level approximately equal to the level of the uppermost portion of the arm. This type of stowage enables the support means to be neatly stowed in a hollow wall or enclosure, as in a bathtub hollow wall, when not in use.

When use of the bookrest is desired, the support means is quickly moved to the figure 1 user position from the stowed broken line position by means of a four-way adjustability.

Firstly, the support means 22 is pivoted, or rotated, upwardly in the direction of its initial planar condition in order to clear the upper edge 41 of walls 40 about pivot point 39. Secondly, the support means is rotatably moved, about the stem 12, to a desired angularity. Thirdly, the arm extension 16 of the support means 22 is moved laterally, as desired, and the support angle and lock nut 18 tightened.

Fourthly, the height of the support means 22 may be changed, as desired, by normally moving the track 24 of support means 22 along the tongue 21 of bracket 20; and the support means 22 is unfolded at its hinges 26.

1. A stowable support for books and the like, which comprises: a rotatable stem; an arm pivotally attached to said stem whereby said arm can be moved from a horizontal position to a vertical position and thereafter rotated to any desired position about the longitudinal axis of said stem means; a support means for a book or the like attached to said arm, said support means being rotatably moveable about the longitudinal axis of said arm to adjust the angular relationship of support means to a desired plane of support with respect to said arm; a first locking means of locking the support means to said arm in said desired angular relationship; and a second means to allow said support means to be moved generally upwardly and downwardly along said desired plane of support relative to said arm to a desired level.

2. A support as claimed in claim 1,wherein said

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Stowable support for books and the like The invention relates to a means for the compact stowing of a folded support, e.g. for books and the like, when not in use, and to the unfolding thereof, to provide a rigid support in any one of a number of possible positions, from the compact stowed position. More particularly, the invention provides a book support having a four-way movement from an initial compact stowed position wherein the support means and its associated mechanisms all lie essentially in a single plane, to a position wherein the support means can be adjusted four ways: (1) rotationally and (2) vertically about a given horizontal axis, (3) laterally with respect to a given vertical axis, and (4) rotationally with respect to that given vertical axis. According to the invention we provide a stowable:supportfor books and the like, which comprises: a rotatable stem; an arm pivotally attached to said stem whereby said arm can be moved from a horizontal position to a vertical position and thereafter rotated to any desired position about the longitudinal axis of said stem means; a support means for a book or the like attached to said arm, said support means being rotatably moveable about the longitudinal axis of said arm to adjust the angular relationship of support means to a desired plane of support with respect to said arm; a first locking means for locking the support means to said arm in said desired angular relationship; and a second means to allow said support means to be moved generally upwardly and downwardly along said desired plane of support relative to said arm to a desired level. In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the stowable support in user positions, the stowed position being shown in phantom; and Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of figure 1 The stowable support is designated, generally, by the numeral 10 and comprises an upstanding rotatable stem 12, an arm 14 connected to said stem 12, an arm extension 16 co-axially extending from said arm 14 and being rotatable therein and laterally extendable therefrom. A knurled lock ring 18 of conventional construction locks arm extension 16 in any desired angular and lateral relationship to the arm 14. Arm extension 16 is provided at its outer end with a bracket means 20 for holding a planar support 22. The bracket means 20 has a tongue 21 slideably extending into a complementary tract or groove 24 formed along one side of support 22 whereby to enable the support 22 to move along the plane of the axis of the groove 24, as indicated by arrows A-A1. The planar support means 22 is hinged at the upper and lower ends thereof, by conventional hinges 26 and the support 22 is thereby foldable in half along the hinge line 27. The bracket means 20 extends within the groove 24 beneath a portion of the support 22 and, together with a rod 28 transversely passing through the distal end 20a of the bracket means, provides a skeletal framework for the support 22. The upper and lower ends of rod 281erminate within blocks 32 of plastic, wood or metal, these blocks abutting the underside of support means 22 and being adhesively, or otherwise, affixed thereto. The stowable support is made preferably primarily of plastic. The stowable support 10 is shown, in figure 1, stowed between walls 40, as for example, the walls of an enclosure built into a molded bathtub, piece of furniture, bed, etc. In the initial stowage position, shown in broken line in figure 1, the support means 22, the arm extension 16 and arm 14, and the stem 12 all lie essentially in a single plane. Further, the arm, its extension and the support itself all lie in the stowed position, at a level approximately equal to the level of the uppermost portion of the arm. This type of stowage enables the support means to be neatly stowed in a hollow wall or enclosure, as in a bathtub hollow wall, when not in use. When use of the bookrest is desired, the support means is quickly moved to the figure 1 user position from the stowed broken line position by means of a four-way adjustability. Firstly, the support means 22 is pivoted, or rotated, upwardly in the direction of its initial planar condition in order to clear the upper edge 41 of walls 40 about pivot point 39. Secondly, the support means is rotatably moved, about the stem 12, to a desired angularity. Thirdly, the arm extension 16 of the support means 22 is moved laterally, as desired, and the support angle and lock nut 18 tightened. Fourthly, the height of the support means 22 may be changed, as desired, by normally moving the track 24 of support means 22 along the tongue 21 of bracket 20; and the support means 22 is unfolded at its hinges 26. CLAIMS

2. A support as claimed in claim 1,wherein said stem, arm and support means all lie initially in a single plane for compact stowing of said support.

3. A support as claimed in claim 1, wherein said arm support means both lie approximately at or below the uppermost edge of said arm to allow compact stowing of said support means.

4. A support as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said support means is attached to said arm by a bracket.

5. A support as claimed in claim 4, wherein said bracket and said support means have a complementary tongue and track connection to permit movement of said support means generally upwardly and downwardly to said desired level.

6. A support as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said first locking means comprises an arm extension extending from said arm and rotatable therewith, and a lock nut for preventing the rotation of said arm extension.

7. A stowable support, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to or as shown in the drawing.