US1035290A - Book-holder. - Google Patents

Description

A. E. WOOD.

BOOK HOLDER.

APPLIOATIOH mum um. 1912.

1 ,O35,290. Patented Aug. 13, 1912.

AP" CO.,WMHINCITON D c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANNA E. WOOD, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

BOOK-HOLDER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANNA E. WVoon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Book-Holders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to book supporting devices and is concerned more especially with an apparatus of a light and portable character which may be used by a reader either in an inclined or an upright position so as to carry the weight of the book and at the same time position it in the most convenient manner.

One object contemplated by this invention is to provide a structure of the foregoing character which with lightness will combine sufficient rigidity and base area to in sure complete steadiness in the supported book, and at the same time provide adjustable means for determining the vertical location of the book and otherwise enable the apparatus to be easily accommodated to books varying in size and weight.

Other objects are to provide in a structure as above outlined simple and effective means adapted to coact with the covers of the book for retaining it in place, in combination 'with a means for holding the book open, of a nature readily yielding to a vertical general and local shifting to prevent any inconvenient obstruction of the printing, while at the same time enabling the leaves to be progressively turned with facility.

For the purpose of better promoting a complete disclosure of this invention, drawings exemplifying the same by way of a preferred embodiment thereof have been appended, and in such drawings like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, of which Figure 1 is a general perspective depicting the apparatus as used by a reader in an upright position. Fig. 2 is a section taken through line o, o, of Fig. 1, showing a feature of the means for adjusting the position of the base rail of the apparatus, convenience and simplicity being enhanced by the utilization of friction. Fig. 3 is a section through line on, w, of Fig. 1, showing further friction insuring means and also Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 24, 1912.

'well braced structure.

Patented Aug. 13, 1912.

Serial No. 673,462.

illustrating a preferred construction of the bottom rail whereby the covers of the book may be better retained against displacement.

Continuing now by way of a more detailed description, the preferred form of this invention may be said to combine, first, a main rigid frame forming the principal support for the back of the book and preferably provided with widely spaced side legs or standards, second, a frictionally adjustable base. rail for adjustably determining the vertical position of the lower edges of the covers of the book, third, means for retaining the covers flat-wise a ainst the main frame, and fourth, adjustable means for holding open the pages containing the reading matter.

The main frame is preferably formed of two uprising end rails 1 and 2 of wood, the lower ends of which are preferably extended to form legs 3, which may be used for carrying the weight of the apparatus as by bridging or spanning the body of the reader and resting directly against a part of the article of furniture occupied by the reader. It 1s to be noted that by reason of this construction, the reader is relieved of all weight whether sitting up or reclining, and thus the reading of books whether light or heavy may be comfortably done. For the purpose of insuring rigidity and at the same tune providing a backing against whlch the covers of the book may rest, a plurality of transverse slats 4, 5, and 6 may be attached at their ends to the upper'portions of the 3 side members, said slats being spaced apart about as shown, thus forming a light and These slats possess sufficient length so that books of venous proportions may be held, and by reason of this construction the supportlng legs or standards are widely separated thereby providing a wide base of support for the apparatus and insuring a correspondlng high degree of stability.

The frictionally adjustable base rail proposed by this invention may assume various forms, but that shown in the drawings combines with effectiveness the elements of cheapness and simplicity. This element consists of the rail or cross member 7 positioned behind and in sliding frlctional cont-act with the side members 1 and 2, said cross member being long enough to project slightly from the side of each of said side members. A second cross member 8 is also provided and is located forward of the said side members 1 and 2 and slidably bears upon the same in a similar manner. This cross member 8 is preferably some what narrower than the member 7 so that the strip portion 9 of the latter may project upwardly beyond the top edge of the cross member 8, as shown by Figs. 2 and 3, thereby providing a ledge for receiving the lower back margins of the covers of the book. In order that the lower edges of the covers of the book may better find a support against downward movement and at the same time be restrained against lateral or forward movement, a second strip 10 is arranged between the cross strips 7 and 8, said strip 10 being of such length as to terminate between the upright side members 1 and 2. VVhile this strip may be secured to either of the cross members 7 or 8, it is shown affixed to the latter and, in order to provide a transverse groove or seat 11 for receiving and retaining the lower edges of the cover of the book, the strip 10 may be slightly narrower than the strip 8. Instead of securing together two strips as aforesaid it will be apparent that a single piece of material provided with an edge retaining groove in its upper portion may be used if desired. Inasmuch as it is proposed that this base rail may be easily adjusted to hold any position on the uprising side members 1 and :2, the cross members 7 and 8 are preferably secured together by some resilient means adapted to cause them to frictionally clamp such side members and thereby tend to retain their position. To this end, elas tic webbing 12, such as garter stock may be employed and secured to the parts, as by means of suitable tacks 13.

The cover retaining means preferably used in this device is exceedingly simple and effective and merely consists of two bands of elastic fabric 14: and 15 which pass over the top cross member 4 and the base rail respectively. Such bands being amply elastic, permit a vertical adjustment of the base rail and, by being passed over the inside faces of the covers of the book as shown by Fig. 1, suffice'to hold the latter securely in place, while yet enabling it to be easily interchanged with another book whenever desired. It is noteworthy that the contractile force of such bands is so applied as to tend to uplift the base rail, thus cooperating with the clamping friction in supporting the book. Furthermore, by this arrangement, the reader is enabled without effort to slide such rail up and down while reading, thus enabling the book to be maintained in correct reading position.

The page holding means is also extremely simple and effective and merely consists of a band 16 of elastic fabric which-is stretched over the uprising side members 1 and 2 so as to pass over and hold flat the open pages I of the reading matter as shown. This band is sufliciently narrow so as not to unduly obstruct the reading matter, and its resiliency enables it to be very easily slightly displaced up and down to clear the vision of any reading matter that may underlie it,

in case it is not desired to move the base rail.

For the purpose of assisting the reader in maintaining this apparatus in an inclined or upright position, a cord 17, having eyelets in its ends and adjustable in length, as by means of the loop and knot 18, may be used. The ends of this cord may be secured to hooks 19 and 20 located in upper portions of the frame and if desired other hooks such as 21 may be otherwise secured to other portions of the structure so that the connection with the cord may be made at different points.

The mode of using and the advantages of this device will be quite obvious from the foregoing. q

The elastic members for holding the book in position and for holding the base rail are of such character that the user may readily raise or lower the base support to hold the book in the desired vertical position to accommodate the vision of the reader. This is very convenient when long books are being used which require vertical adjustment to accommodate the vision of the reader.

It will also be apparent that Various changes in detail and arrangement of the elements of this invention may be made in the light of this disclosure, without departing from the scope of the annexed claims.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. A book holder consisting of a frame attached to legs to span the body of the user and loosely resting upon the support of such user, said frame consisting of a rigid back and a base support formed of rails connected together and to the legs upon each side thereof by elastic webbing and adapted to hold the same in selected adjusted position.

2. In an adjustable book holder, the combination of a frame having relatively spaced supporting legs and a back formed integral therewith, a transverse book supporting rail adjustably supported on the legs, adjustable means intermediate the frame and rail adapted to engage a book cover, adjustable means intermediate the legs adapted to engage the book pages, and an adjustable cord secured to the frame and adapted to regulate the degree of inclina tion of the frame.

3. A book support of the nature disclosed combining a rigid frame adapted to support the back of a book and having Widely by said frame for holding fiat the pages spaced legs adapted to bridge the body of containing the reading matter. 10 the reader, a transverse base rail slidably In testimony whereof, I have hereunto supported adjacent its ends on said legs and set my hand.

adapted to support the lower edges of the ANNA E. WOOD. covers of a book, resilient means effective Witnesses: to elastically apply force to said base rail OLIVER B. KAISER, tending to uplift same, and means carried CLARENCE B. Fos'rnn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0.

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