US197581A - Improvement in book-supports - Google Patents

Description

I. WITWER. Book-Support No. I9 7,58I.-

Patented Nov. 27,- I877.

P NOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WISHINGYON. D-C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC WITWER, on NEW HOLLAND, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN BOOK-SUPPORTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 197,581, dated November 27, 1877; application filed May 28, 1877.

'To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IsAAo WITWER, of New Holland, in the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in an Adjustable Hand-Rest and Writing-Desk, of which the following is a specification:

The object of this invention is to supply an adjustable hand-rest, to facilitate writing desk withits parts folded. Fig. 2 shows the under side of the same with the parts in place. Fig. 3 is afront elevation of the handrest, to show the arrangement of devices for elevating it. Fig. 4 shows the hand-rest folded down and the lids. of a book supported on the adjustable side tables to bring the surface of both sides of the leaves on a level. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the hand-rest and table.

The device is shown complete for laying upon a desk or table; but legs or supports at the four corners may be affixed to form a desk or' table, if desirable.

In Fig.1, A A represent the supportingtablets resting upon the frame 0, E, and P. (Shown in Fig. 2.) The fixed intermediate piece 13 is to receive the ordinary springback of books of record, while the side tables can be separately or jointly adjusted, to bring the upper surface of the leaves on each side to a level position by means of links I, attached to the sides of the tables above, and to the frame and center-piece below. These links are held by pivot-pins, like in an ordinary parallel ruler, and act in unison to raise either table independently from the other.

To hold'the same in adjustment, the forward,

pair of links I are each notched, to receive a pawl, K, on a shaft, G, arranged in suitable bearings, and externally provided with a handle, H, to separately actuate each pair of pawls under each table.

When the book is adjusted a projecting metallic strip, 0, forming a part of the handrest D, is brought down and supported upon the lower margin of the book, said rest having been previously raised for the purpose.

Thus the hand-rest is in the same horizontal plane with the leaves'to be written upon, and

the object of my invention thereby attained. This hand-rest D and metallic ledge O are connected with a metallic cross-strip, L, and

an intermediate section or strip, M, by means ing intermediate plate may be used; but I prefer the arrangement shown and described.

As before stated, the object in view is to raise the hand-rest and tables independently, and to cause them to retain their horizontal position. Hence they must be separatelyad justable, and so held when adjusted.

I am aware that book-supports connected with the ends of an oscillating lever, which is held on a central pivot, as shown in ,Pat-

ents No. 95,369 and No. 140,107, are used without a hand-rest, as also a hand-rest clamped to the cover of a book, as shown in Patent No. 165,885, all of which I disclaim; but I am not aware of a combination of an adjustable hand-rest with two independentlymoved book-supports which are separately operated and held in their adjustment, substantially as herein set forth.

lVhat I claim as my invention is The combination of an adjustable handrest, D, with its ledge O and slotted bar M, the independently-adjustable side tablets A A, pawl K, and shaft G, and central piece B,

arranged and operated substantially as and for the purpose specified.

ISAAC WITWER.

Witnesses SAMUEL DILLMAN', G. H. TowNsLEY.

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