US1936489A - Means for facilitating reference to and reading of books and the like - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 21, 1933. H. A. THOMSON 1,936,489

MEANS FOR FACILITATING REFERENCE TO AND READING OF BOOKS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 23, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 21, 1933. H. A, THOMSON MEANS FOR FACILITATING REFERENCE TO AND READING OF BOOKS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 23, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sumwwtm W M, m J 5 W m J m w: fl F Wu H W W Z a 7, z a a 6 -L m f Patented Nov. 21, 1933 MEANS FOR FACILITATING REFERENCE TO AND READING OF BOOKS AND THE LIKE Hugh Alexander Thomson, Kensington, London, England Application December 23, 1929, Serial No. 416,127, g

and in Great Britain December 27, 1928 Claims.

This invention relates to means for facilitating reading of or reference to books and-the like, and has among its objects to provide a'simple and effective construction of such means whereby 5 a book, such as a reference book, may be held or supported in an open position and whereby a particular sequence in the reading of pages or passages in other books may be indicated, or particular pages marked for reference. E According to the present invention, I provide a holder for a reference or other book comprising a pair of fiat parts of suitable shape adapted to be attached to the cover of the book and to engage with the pages thereof to hold the book open at the desired position, the two parts being hinged together by means of a hinge pin capable of limited axial movement in the parts of the hinge, and having at its lower end'a suitably bent extension or pivoted part adapted to afford a support for the book to enable it to stand upon a table or other flat surface, and alsoadapted to engage with a socket or the like at the upper end of a fitting applied to the back of another book, such as a text book. Means such as a projecting fitting upon one of the hinge parts, also a slot adapted to engage respectively with the laterally extending part and bent part of the hinge pin are provided for preventing rotation of the holder about the hinge pin when supported from another book and when operating on a table in the'manner described. Conveniently, the holder is attached to the book cover by means of press-button or similar fasteners and the cover may be of the kind that is separate from the book. The respective hinge parts may be provided with suitable stops to determine the extent to which the parts of the holder can be opened, while a spring or frictional device may be provided, for example, upon the hin e pin to engage with the parts of the holder to ensure that they remain in the position to which they are set.

The invention also comprises means for indicating particular pages or passages in a book,

such as a textbook. For this'purpose, according to the invention, the frame or memberprovided with the socket for the reception of the bent portioniof the hinge pin of the holder before described is adapted toextend at the back of the bookand to be held or fixed thereto, preferably detachably, in any suitable manner, the frame or member being provided at each end with a metal loop or rim extending at right angles over the top and bottom of the book in position adjacent the back or binding thereof. Means are provided whereby the distance apart of the metal loops or rims may be increased or decreased for the purpose Of engaging with or disengaging from? a number of markers extending between the page of the book and having hook-shaped parts at their extremities adapted'to' co-operate with the metal loops or 'rimsi Means such as a spring catch or the like may be provided to maintain the metal loops or rims apart, in which position they may interlock with the markers so that, on release of the spring catch, the metal loops or rims are permitted to approach one another to the necessary extent to enable the markers to be 'moved or set in'diiferent positions in thebook. The frame or member referred to may beheld to the back of the book by means such as an india rubber band passing over or around thefram'e or member'and beneath the cover or flyleaves:

of the book. At the upper end the frame or member may be provided with a socketor other means adapted for the reception of the .bent portion of the hinge pin or other co-operating part of the holder before described, so that it is thus possible to refer to or read from two books while using only one hand and with the minimum of incon-' venience. In addition, the means described for marking particular pages or passages enables all the markers to be locked in their respective posi ticns simultaneously and to be as easily unlocked when it is required to change their positions.

' The invention is hereinafter described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatiodrawings, in which:--

Figure l is a side elevation of a combined holding and marking device according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a front view Figure 1; r

Figure 3 is a side elevation showing the holding device. for a reference or like book adjusted so as to support the latter upon a table or other fiat surface; Figure 4 is a cross-section on the line 4 4, Figure 2, drawn to an enlarged scale; Figure 5 is a top plan view, also on an enlarge scale, of the fitting for attachment to a text or like book'and provided with a socket for the support of the holder for a reference or other book. Figure 6 is a section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2. Figure '7 is a rear elevation of the foldable holder shown in Fig. 2 in front elevation. Figure 8 is a detail section taken longitudinally of the latch. Q

In carrying the invention into'effect according corresponding to accompanying diagrammatic drawings, a holder for a reference or other book consists of two similar parts or wings 1, 2 of flat sheet metal or other suitable material hinged together and conveniently curved outwardly at their upper and lower ends. At the upper extremities of the parts or wings 1, 2, stud members 3 of snap pressbutton fastenings may be provided to engage with corresponding socket members 4 fitted to the inside or outside of a removable or separate book cover 5 which may be of leather or other suitable material, the hinged parts 1, 2 being attached to the cover 5 in such position that the hinge is substantially in alignment with the fold of the cover. Upon reference to Fig. 2, it will be understood that the cover 5 is of a well-known form, having pockets at its ends to receive the sides of a book binding whereby various books may be interchangeably fitted in the cover. The lower parts of the wings 1, 2 are suitably shaped or bent to enable them to be engaged over the pages of a book 6, indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, at the position at which it is desired to hold the book open. The parts or wings 1, 2 are hinged together by means of a hinge pin '2 which is adapted to slide in the hinge to an extent determined by a head or diverted part 8 at the upper end of the hinge pin and by a bent part 9 at the lower part thereof. At the lower part the hinge pin is bent back upon itself to a suitable extent so that this bent part 9 may extend at the back of the cover parallel with the hinge, and the hinge pin isthen bent at right angles so as to provide a rearwardly extending part 10. If the hinge pin be moved upwards, the bend 9 will engage a slot or notch 11 in one of the parts 1, 2 at the bottom of the hinge, the stem 10 will then support the bookholder in the proper upright and slightly inclined position upon a flat surface, such as a table, as shownfm Figure 3. When the holder is not in use the extending part 10 of the hinge pin is brought round to the front of the holder and, by pushing the hinge pin up to its limit of movement, it may assumea concealed and hence an inoperative position between the leaves of the reference book. The pin extension 10 may be pulled down from amongst the book leaves and disposed in front of the lower part of one of the wings 1, 2 and, at its extremity, engaged with a marginal portion 12 of the wing whereby it will be retained in the operative position as shown in Fig. 2. The portion 12 is adapted at its underside for engagement with the laterally extending part 10 of the hinge pin for the purpose of preventing rotation of the parts or wings 1, 2 upon the hinge pin when the downwardly extending bent part 9 thereof is held in the hand or is fitted into a socket 13 or the like in a supporting member 14 attached to another book 15 as hereinafter described. The hinged parts 1, 2 are provided with stops 16 on opposed parts of the hinge to limit the extent to which the parts may be opened, and a coil spring 1'7 or other means may be provided to cooperate with the hinge pin 7 and with the respective parts or wings 1, 2 to take up any slack in the hinge connection and thereby to ensure sufficient friction to maintain the parts in the position in which they are set;

The lower part of the wings 1, 2 are formed with rearwardly bent tongues or offsets 12a adapted to afford recesses for the reception of the lower edge of the cover 5, and also are formed with forwardlybent like elements 12b arranged to engage with the lower edgesof the pages of the book 6 to hold it open at the required position.

For the purpose of marking particular pages or passages in a text book 15 or the like, a number of markers 18 are provided comprising members conveniently of thin sheet metal, celluloid or other suitable material, each of which members preferably consists of a straight part having a hook-shaped extension or eyelet 19 at each end and an integral laterally extending bar or part 18a having a reference numeral or letter at its extremity. The markers 18 are inserted into the book at the desired positions so that the main parts thereof extend between the pages adjacent the back or binding, it being understood that the hook-shaped extensions or eyelets 19 project from the top and bottom of the book in such manner that the openings or gaps 20 therein are rearwardly directed. The frame 14, which may be constructed of sheet metal or wire or other material, is applied to the back of the book and held thereto or fixed thereon in any suitable manner. allel wire members spaced apart at the'ends and at an intermediate position by crosspieces, or, as shown, may be made of sheet metal. One end of the frame is bent into oblique angular relation to the main portion of the frame and has its edges rolled inwardly, as shown in Fig. 5, to form flanges or the socket 13 in which is engaged and frictionally held the bend 9 of the hinge pin, as will be understood on reference to Figs. 1 and 2. This bent end of the frame is fixedly provided with a loop 21 or rim of suitable shape arranged to extend across the top edges of the book and to engage within the hook-shaped parts or eyelets 19, as shown in Figs. 1, the loop or rim being of a sufiiciently small diameter to pass through the gaps 20 in the hook-shaped parts or eyelets 19. If desired, this loop or rim may be integrally formed with the parallel wires constituting the frame. At the other end of the frame 14 a similar loop or rim 22 is provided and is so mounted that .it may be moved towards and away from the other loop or rim 21 to a limited extent. For this purpose the ends of the loop or rim 22 may be mounted on a member 23 which is slidable upon the adjacent end of the frame 14, and the loop or rim 22 may be drawn towards the other loop or rim 21 by a suitable spring 01' springs 24 which also may serve to secure the book 15 to the frame 14. The member 23 has a bent or angular formation corresponding to the inclination of the end 13 of the frame so that the ends of the spring 24, passed through the loops 21-and 22 and engaged around the bent or angularly disposed elements as shown in Fig. 1, will be held by the bent elements and tend constantly to draw them together. Upon reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 6, it will be understood that the back of the book 15 rests on the frame 14, with the sides of the book extending at opposite sides of the frame, and the spring 24, whichv may be a strong rubber band, is engaged around the elements 13 and 23 and over the back of the book, with the leaves of the book passing between the sides of the spring. The markers 18 may be provided in such number as may be desired within the capacity of the loops 21 and 22. A suitable stop 26 is provided to limit the downward movement of the slidably mounted loop or rim, and a catch 25 of any suitable construction, preferably actuated by a spring 25a, is provided whereby the loop or rim 22 may be locked in its lower position. Conveniently, the

The frame 14 may consist of two par-.

arrangement is such that when the catch is released so that the loops or rims 21, 22 are in the nearer position, the markers 18 may be freely withdrawn from engagement with the loops or rims 21, 22 and replaced in different positions as desired, while, when the slidable loop or rim 22 is moved outwardly to the extent determined by the stop 26 and is locked in this position by means of the catch 25 referred to, the markers 18 cannot be withdrawn from their positions owing to the engagement of the hook-shaped parts or eyelets 19 with the respective loops or rims 21, 22. The socket 13 adapted for the reception of the bent part 9 of the hinge pin of the holder before described is arranged at the top of the frame 14 so that the reference or other book 6 carried by the holder may be supported in position above the book 15 provided with the marking or indicating means.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction hereinbefore described. For example, the holder referred to may be constructed of celluloid or any other suitable material, while the frame for locking the markers in position may be formed in any other suitable manner and otherwise provided with relatively movable parts adapted to engage the markers in the manner and for the purpose specified.

What I claim is:

1. A holder for a reference or other book comprising a pair of flat parts of suitable shape adapted to be attached to a book cover and to engage with the book leaves to hold the book open at the desired position, the two parts being hinged together by means of a hinge pin capable of limited axial movement in the parts of the hinge and having at its lower end a suitably bent extension adapted to afford a support for the book to enable it to stand upon a table or other flat surface and also adapted to engage with a socket or the like at the upper end of a fitting applied to the back of another book such as a text book.

2. A holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hinged parts are slotted so as to engage the bent part of the hinge pin when the latter is arranged to support the book upon a table or the like for the purpose of preventing rotation of the holder about the hinge pin.

3. A holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or both of the hinged parts of the holder are suitably shaped or provided to co-operate with the bent portion of the hinge pin in such manner that when the holder is supported in the socket at the upper end of the fitting appli d to the other book, the holder is prevented from rotating about the hinge pin.

4. A holder as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hinged parts are provided with suitable stops to determine the extent to which the parts can be opened.

5. A holder as claimed in claim 1 wherein a spring or frictional device is provided upon the hinge pin to engage with the hinged parts to ensure that they remain in the position to which they are set. v

6. For use in connection with a holder for a reference or like book according to claim 1 a fitting comprising a frame or member adapted to extend at the back of a text or other book and to be held or fixed thereto, preferably detachably, such frame or member having a socket at its upper end for the reception of the bent portion of the hinge pin of the holder for the reference or like book.

'7. A bookholder comprising a frame provided at each end with a loop to extend across the top and bottom edges of a book in position adjacent the back or binding thereof, means whereby the distance apart of the loops may be increased or decreased, marking members detachably engaged with the loops and adapted to extend between the leaves of a book, and a rubber band passing around the ends of the frame adjacent the loops and over a book inside the covers thereof to attach the frame to the book.

8. An attachment for books comprising a frame provided at each end with a lateral marker supporting loop to extend across the top and bottom edges of a book in position adjacent the back or binding thereof, adjusting means whereby the distance apart of the loops may be increased or decreased, andv means connected with the adjusting means and frame respectively and extending through said loops and over the book inside the covers thereof to maintain the frame in engagement with the book. 7

9. An attachment for books comprising a frame adapted to it the back of a book adjacent the binding thereof and having terminal loops arranged to extend across the top and bottom edges of the'bcok, means extending through the loops and over the book inside the covers thereof and connected with the frame to maintain the frame in engagement with the book, marking members cletachably engaging said loops, and adjusting means whereby the distance apart of the loops may be increased or diminished to retain the marking members on the loops or permit removal of said marking members therefrom.

10. An attachment for books comprising a frame provided at each end with a laterally projecting marker supporting loop to extend across the top and bottom edges of a book in position adjacent the back or binding thereof, one of said loops being adjustable longitudinally of the frame, and resilient means connectedwith the frame and said adjustable loop and passing over the book inside the covers thereof to maintain the frame in engagement with the book.

HUGH ALEXANDER THOMSON.

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