GB2185390A - Adjustable reading support - Google Patents

Abstract

An adjustable book cover support has a pivotable base (16) which can be inclined at a suitable reading angle. The angle of each cover support (20,22) to the inclined base (16) can be independently adjusted to accommodate books of different thickness and the cover supports can be moved to and away from each other to define a spine receiving recess (32) of varying width. The cover supports (20,22) also include means for securing (52) vellum pages in place during the reading of antique vellum books. Inserts are provided which permit the book support to be used with smaller thinner books and also with books having covers of different thickness. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Adjustable reading support The present invention relates to book supports for use in reading books and is particularly, but not exclusively, suitable as adjustable supports for reading antique books and manuscripts.

Reading antique books and manuscripts often presents considerable problems because of the age of the books, the materials are friable and can break or become easily damaged. Also the books tend to be heavy and can be damaged by their own weight. Furthermore, the manuscript books are generally dry and inflexible and small strains or bends can damage the book and may be irrepairable.

A suitable book support for use in reading antique books and manuscripts should satisfy a number of criteria in addition to being reliable, easy to use and relatively inexpensive. It should be readily usable with books of different weights and sizes and should be easily adjustable to accommodate books of different thickness. Also, it should hold the covers of the book firmly without damage and should accommodate covers of different thickness. In addition, the support should be adjustable to vary the angle of inclination of the book for optimum reading angle and the angle between book support surfaces should be adjustable to permit books of different thickness to be opened to a reasonable viewing position. With older books having vellum pages, the pages, being heavy, have a tendency when the book is opened, to slip toward the spine, and this can damage the pages.The book support should also provide means for securing the vellum pages in a reading position without damage. In the case of thick antique books the spine should be supported and the adjustable support should also permit support of the spine of very wide books.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved antique book support which obviates or mitigates the aforesaid disadvantages.

This is achieved by providing adjustable cover supports on a pivotable base which can be inclined at a suitable reading angle. The angle of each cover support to the inclined base can be independently adjusted to accommodate books of different thickness and the cover supports can be moved to and away from each other to define a spine receiving recess of varying width. The cover supports also include means for securing vellum pages in place during reading of antique vellum books. Inserts are provided which permit the book support to be used with smaller thinner books and also with books having covers of different thickness.

Accordingly, in one aspect of the present invention there is provided an adjustable book support comprising a base, a pair of book cover supports adjustably mounted on the base, each cover support being adjustable relative to the base to vary the angle between the cover and the base, the covers having ends disposed on the base a predetermined distance apart to define a recess for receiving a book spine, and the base being inclinable relative to a horizontal plane to set the book support at a desired viewing angle.

Preferably, said covers are slidable towards and away from each other in the plane of said base to vary the width of said spine recess.

Preferably also, each cover includes page securing means for holding said pages in a reading position, said page securing means consisting of a clamp secured to a respective cover, a flexible cord one end being attached to said clamp and a weight attached to the other end of said cord, and a cord guide peg for positioning the cord on the surface of the said pages.

Preferably also, the base comprises a top movable portion and a bottom portion, said top and bottom portions being hinged at one end, and ratchet means disposed being said top and bottom portions to permit the top portion to be disposed at a predetermined angle relative to said bottom portion and for maintaining said top portion securely in said position.

Preferably also, said covers have pivotably mounted levers coupled thereto, said pivotably mounted levers having metal insert ends for engaging in a strip of compressed elastomer in said base, and forming a friction grip therewith to prevent slippage of said covers from said angle of repose, which is adequately held by the weight of the book.

Additionally, inserts can be provided in said spine recess and on said covers to permit books of different spine widths and cover thickness to be read using said adjustable book support.

These an other aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in combination with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an adjustable book support in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective detail of part of Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a top plan view of the base member shown in Fig. 1; Figure 4 is a plan view of a spine insert for use when said book holder requires to receive wide spines; Figure 5 shows top and side views of a cover insert for use with covers of different thickness, and Figure 6 shows the arrangement of the steel inserts.

Reference is first made to Fig. 1 of the drawings which illustrates an adjustable book holder, generally indicated by reference numeral 10 for receiving an antique book 12, indicated in broken outline, and for supporting the wntique book in an angle of repose such that the stresses on the book are minimised whilst at the same time it can be easily read.

The adjustable book holder 10 consists of a planar bottom base member 14 on baize pads 68 which is connected to a planar top member 16 by hinges 18 and which permits the top member to be pivoted about the hinge relative to the bottom member 14 so that the angle betwen the top and bottom members sets the angle of inclination of the book and this is adjustable, as will be explained to the desired angle for reading depending on the requirement of the user.

The top member 16 has book cover supports 20 and 22 positioned thereon to define a generally V-shape for receiving the book in an open position as shown in broken outline.

Each book cover 20 has a pair of pivotal legs 24 with steel inserts 67, disposed at opposite ends thereof for engaging in rubber strips 26 disposed on the surface of the top member 16. It will be appreciated that each cover is independently adjustable by positioning the legs 24 in the strips, although for convenience the "V" defined by the cover is generaly symmetrical for receiving the book. The strips are made of a "Nebar" composition which together with steel inserts 67 in the end of the legs forms a friction grip to prevent slippage of the cover relative to the top base member.

Each cover support 20 and 22 is planar and has at one end thereof an end face portion 28 upon which the book 12 can rest when in the inclined position. The end face and the planar portion define a recess channel 30 in each cover for receiving the book cover which normally extends beyond the pages of the book so as to protect the pages.

The cover supports 20 and 22 are spaced a predetermined distance apart to define a spine recess 32. And the width of this spine recess can be varied by using a cover support slider mechanism, generally indicated by reference numeral 34, and is best seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The slider mechanism consists of a base portion 36 to which is coupled a handle 38 via a rod 40 and the slider is coupled to a respective cover 20,22 via a piano hinge 42.

It will be appreciated that although only one slider mechanism is shown both slider mechanisms are identical. The rod 40 passes through side element 44 on the top planar member. By pulling and pushing the handles 38 the covers 20,22 can be slid relative to each other to vary the width of the spine recess 32.

The handles 38 can also be used to grip the top member 16 and to lift the top member 16 about hinge 18 relative to bottom member 14. A ratchet mechanism consisting of a pivotable peg 46 can be engaged in any one of a plurality of spaced slots 48 to define the angle of inclination of the top member 16 at a desired viewing angle so that any book positioned in the adjustable book holder can be easily read.

Each end face 28 contains a clamp member 50 which consists simply of a screw and a washer. The clamp member may receive a piece of cord 52 which can be wrapped around the screw and then tightened against the end face and the cord 52 fed across the top of a page, for example, vellum to a lead weight 54 as shown in broken outline. In the case of vellum, this prevents the heavy pages from sliding under their own weight towards the centre of the book, thus preventing possible damage tothe pages and also facilitating reading of the pages. Each book support has such a clamp means although it has only been illustrated in one book support for clarity.

Dowel pins 69 (Fig. 3) prevent the cord sliding by gravity towards the spine.

Reference is now made to Fig. 4 of the drawings which illustrates a spine recess insert which can be inserted into the recess 32 when books with wide spines are used for providing increased support to the book spine and preventing damage to the spine under the weight of the book. Insertion is achieved by separating the covers using handles 38 until a desired width is achieved and then sliding in the spinal insert 56. Reference is now made to Fig. 5 of the drawings which shows a further insert to adjust the spine slot depth and this is usefl when particularly thin book are required to be used. The insert 58 consists of a planar portion 60 having two pegs indicated by reference numeral 62 extending therefrom.

The planar portion 60 has an oblique face 64 which is adapted to be positioned towards the spinal recess 32. The pegs 62 are adapted to be received by apertures 66 in the end face 28 of the respective book cover supports 20 and 22.

It should also be understood that various modifications may be made to the book holder hereinbefore described without departing from the scope of the invention. For example it should be understood that various other mechanisms rather than the peg and ratchet system may be used to set the inclination of the top member relative to the bottom member. In addition, the vellum may be clamped by other means such as tying cord around the book support member or by using an elastic band stretched between first and second clamping positions.

The book holder may be made of wood or any other suitable material and proportioned to suit a wide range of antique book and manuscript sizes.

Advantages of the invention are that the book holder is readily usable with books of different weights and sizes and is easily adjustable to accommodate books of different thicknesses. It holds the covers of the book firmly without damage and accommodates the covers of different thickness. Furthermore, the book support is adjustable for varying the angle of inclination of the book for optimising the reading angle and the angle between the book support surfaces is adjustable to permit books of different thickness to be opened to a reasonable viewing position. Furthermore, means are provided for permitting book having vellum pages to be easily read and for accommodating and supporting antique books with thick or wide spines so as to minimise stress on the spine. A further advantage is that the use of the baize pads 68 prevents scratching of the surface of polished tables.

Claims (7)

1. An adjustable book support comprising a base, a pair of book cover supports adjustably mounted on the base, each cover support being adjustable relative to the base to vary the angle between the cover and the base, the covers having ends disposed on the base a pre-determined distance apart to define a recess for receiving a book spine, and the base being inclinable relative to a horizonal plane to set the book support at a desired viewing angle.

2. An adjustable book support as claimed in claim 1 wherein said covers are slidable towards and away from each other in the plane of said base to vary the width of said spine recess.

3. An adjustable book support as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein each cover includes page securing means for holding said pages in a reading position, said page securing means consisting of a clamp secured to a respective cover, a flexible cord one end being attached to said clamp and a weight attached to the other end of said cord, and a cord guide peg for positioning the cord on the surface of the said page.

4. An adjustable book support as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the base comprises a top moveable portion and a bottom portion, said top and bottom portions being hined at one end, and ratchet means disposed being said top and bottom portions to permit the top portion to be disposed at a predetermined angle relative to said bottom portion and for maintaining said top portion securely in said position.

5. An adjustable book support as claimed in any preceding claim said covers have pivotably mounted levers coupled thereto, said pivotably mounted levers having metal insert ends for engaging in a strip of compressed elastomer in said base, and forming a friction grip therewith to prevent slippage of said covers from said angle of repose, which is adequately held by the weight of the book.

6. An adjustable book support as claimed in any preceding claim wherein inserts can be provided in said spine recess and on said covers to permit books of different spine widths and cover thickness to be read using said adjustable book support.

7. An adjustable book support substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.