GB2289241A - Newspaper holder. - Google Patents

Abstract

A holder for newspapers and the like comprises first and second generally parallel telescoping arms (10, 10a; 11, 11a) which are positioned on either side of the newspaper spine to support the newspaper (20). A handle (15) permits the newspaper to be read "one handed" without the need to fold it. The lower arm is secured to the handle, but the upper arm is releasably engaged in a socket 17 in the handle. A pivot (14) joining the outer ends of the arms allows them to be separated, thereby facilitating insertion of a newspaper. <IMAGE>

Description

PAPER HOLDER The present invention relates to a holder for papers. The invention is particularly intended for holding newspapers but it is equally suitable for other loose papers which are not bound with a stiff spine and tend to crumple whilst being held..

It is well known that newspapers can-be cumbersome to manage in confined spaces because the pages are large in relation to the thickness of the newspaper as a whole, in contrast to bound books for example. Page turning, especially with broad sheets, in a cramped train compartment can be extremely frustrating.

Attempts have been made to alleviate this problem by providing a paper holder which acts as a removable "spine" and helps to stiffen the pages so that they can be more easily turned. This known paper holder simply comprises two lengths of bamboo or cylindrical rod held together at their ends and extending along the fold of the newspaper, one on each side of the pile of sheets. This device is extremely cumbersome, mainly due to its weight.

It also has the disadvantage of not being easily portable because, to be suitable for all newspapers, the rods are a little longer than the height of a broad sheet.

The present invention therefore aims to provide an improved paper holder.

The present invention provides a holder for papers comprising first and second telescoping arms and means for securing together the ends of the arms. Thus, the arms can be extended to accommodate broadsheets and retracted to accommodate smaller papers. The holder can also be carried more easily.

Preferably, one end of each arm is pivotably attached to one end of the other arm. One arm may have a handle at one end, preferably remote from the pivotal connection.

The handle preferably includes means for receiving the end of the other arm. This may comprise a simple chip but preferably one arm is inserted in a recess in the handle. The recess may be oriented such that the direction of insertion of one arm into the recess is parallel to the direction of extent of the other arm. The result is a particularly neat carrying (and reading) configuration.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a paper holder according to the invention folded, and with the arms in their retracted configuration; FIGURE 2 is a side elevation corresponding to Figure 1 showing the arms partially extended; FIGURE 3 is a side elevation showing the arms partially extended and open to receive a newspaper; FIGURE 4 is a perspective view showing the paper holder holding a newspaper; and FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 are cross sectional views taken along lines V, VI and VII of Figure 2 respectively.

The illustrated newspaper holder comprises first and second arms 10, 11 which extend parallel to each other in use, one on either side of the spine of the newspaper 20 (Figure 4.) The first arm 10 comprises a hollow tube portion 10a and a rod portion 1Ob which is slidable within the tube portion 1Ob to vary the length of the arm 10. Likewise, the second arm comprises a hollow tube portion 11a and a rod portion 11b which is slidable within the tube portion 11a to vary the length of the arm 11.

The ends of the rod portions 10b, lib are pivotably attached to each other by means of a projecting lug 13 attached to rod portion 11b retained in a channel at the end of the rod portion 1Ob by means of a pin 14.

Preferably, a suitable stop means (not shown) are provided on the inside of the tube portion 10a, either on the rod portion 1Ob or the tube portion 10a, to prevent the rod portion 10b from being completely removed from the tube portion 1Ob. Similar means may be provided on the inside of the tube portion 11a.

The tube portion 10a is provided with a handle 15, at its end remote from the pivotal connection of the rod portions 1Ob, 11b. The handle may be a generally oval section hollow member closed by an end cap 16. The handle 15 is fixed to the tube portion 1Oa, for example by welding, and has an opening or recess 17 opposite end cap 16 for receiving the end of the tube portion 11a. The recess 17 may be provided as an internal tube in the handle or simply an opening in the end of the handle 15, adjacent the attachment of tube portion 10a.

As shown most clearly in Figures 5, 6 and 7, the second arm portions 11a and lib are circular in section with rod portion 11b being solid. The first arm portions 10a and 1Ob have the shape, in section, of a segment representing more than half the area of a circle, with the flat surface facing the other arm portions, and rod portion 10b being solid.

The paper holder may be operated as follows: Starting from the configuration shown in Figure in order to hold a newspaper with the paper holder, tube portion 11a is firstly pushed to the left as shown in Figure 1 so as to move the whole arm 11 as well as rod portion 10b with respect to the handle 15. Arm portion 11a is thus removed from recess 17. This motion is continued until the arm 1Oa is extended sufficiently to hold the newspaper with its spine extending between the pivot joint and the opening of recess 17. The arms 10, 11 are then brought parallel to each other and the tube portion 11a is moved towards the right with respect to rod portion 11b and inserted in recess 17. At this point the arms are in the positions shown in Figures 2 and 4 and the newspaper can be held in the hand conveniently by simply holding the handle 15.Even a broadsheet can be supported "one handed" without having to fold up the newspaper.

The paper holder can be made of any convenient material such as lightweight aluminium or moulded plastics.

As a result it may be much lighter than versions available hitherto.

Suitable dimensions for the holder are as follows: Handle length : 3" (76mm) Tube portion 1Oa : 12" (305mm) Length fully extended including handle : 27" (690mm) With these dimensions the holder is equally suitable for holding broadsheet and tabloid newspapers.

It will be appreciated that the above described example could be modified in various ways. One possibility would be to include more portions in the telescoping arms 10, 11 so that the holder is smaller in the folded configuration and could be used to hold smaller sheaves of paper. Instead of the end of one arm entering a recess in the handle, it could be clipped to the handle. Numerous other variations are possible within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (12)

CLAIMS:

1. A holder for papers comprising first and second telescoping arms and means for securing together the respective ends of the arms.

2. A holder as claimed in claim 1 in which one end of one arm is pivotably attached to one end of the other arm.

3. A holder as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which one of the arms has a handle at one end.

4. A holder as claimed in claims 2 and 3 in which the handle is provided at the end remote from the pivotal attachment.

5. A holder as claimed in claim 3 or 4 in which the handle includes means for receiving the end of the other arm.

6. A holder as claimed in claim 3, 4 or 5 in which the receiving means comprise a recess in the handle.

7. A holder as claimed in claim 6 in which the recess is adjacent the attachment of the one arm to the handle.

8. A holder as claimed in claim 6 or 7 in which the recess is oriented so that the other arm is inserted into it in a direction parallel to the one arm.

9. A holder as claimed in any preceding claim in which the arms are substantially cylindrical.

10. A holder as claimed in any preceding claim in which at least one arm has a flat surface extending along at least a part of its length, facing the other arm.

11. A holder as claimed in any preceding claim in which each arm comprises at least a hollow tube portion and a second elongate portion slidable within the hollow tube portion.

12. A holder substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.