US2144659A - Bookstand - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 24, 193 M M TlN 2,144,659

BOOKS TAND Original Filed June 18, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet -l I A. M. MARTIN Jan. 24, 1939.

BOOKSTAND Original Filed June is, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 frzz/erza o'r v I 60.7% I

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BOOKSTAND Original Filed June 18, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 24, 1939. A, M. MARTIN 2,144,659

BOOKSTAND Original Filed June 18, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 fzz/eru ar ((99112 M [Yczrfz'n Ja Q'ZJWL A. M. MARTIN Jan. 24, 1939.

BOOKSTAND Original Filed June 18, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 n/6712 0 ayrea M M (01 171 1" (2 5) Patented Jan. 24, 1939 UNETED STA YES musse- ATENT OFFIQE Application June 18, 1934, Serial No. 731,040 Renewed October 30, 1937 26 Claims.

This invention relates to bookstands more particularly including loose-leaf books or binders arranged in group formations commonly referred to as multiple units, where each book is supported independently of the others for ready reference without the necessity of removing the book from its support;

One disadvantage of present multiple units of this type is that the books when opened do not lie sufiiciently flat to afford a good working surface, and another is that the covers of the books interfere with each other, hitherto requiring a tilting support or a limp cover, neither of which is satisfactory. Among other objects, the present invention aims to provide an improved multiple unit boo-kstand by means of which the user can readily refer to any desired page of any of the books without removing the books from their support, by which at the same time a working surface substantially as flat as desired may be obtained, and furthermore by which, where loose-leaf books are used, the books may be fully opened for ready removalor insertion of loose record sheets by the exercise of a minimum of effort upon the part of the user. As these books in modern book-keeping oflices are made in large and heavy sizes, and are commonly referred to and used by young girl clerks, these features of saving time and effort become increasingly important in contributing to the convenience, comfort, and efiiciency of an office force.

Others objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, taken together with the accompanying drawings in which- 1 Figure 1 is a general front view, somewhat in perspective, on a relatively small scale, showing one of these so-called multiple unit bookstands constructed in accordance with my invention, one of the books being shown partially open, but before elevation of the book to permit it to open fully;

Figure 2 is an end View of the structure of Figure 1, but showing one of the books elevated so as to permit a full opening at which time the book is also shown projected forwardly for added convenience;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the base and legs for the individual supports, on a somewhat larger scale;

Figure 4 is a side view of one of the individual supports, the base being shown in section, and the support being shown in full lines in normal position on the base, and in dotted lines in raised or elevated position;

Figure 5 is a front elevation of one of the individual supports in raised position, showing portions of the book in fully open position;

Figure 6 is a front elevation of one of the individual supports in lowered position, showing portions of the book in partially-open position;

Figure '7 is a plan View of the structure of Figure 6 but omitting the book except for the back thereof which is shown in section;

Figure 8 is a cross section taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 7, looking toward the rear of the stand;

Figure 9 is a cross section taken on the line 9-9 of Figure '7, looking toward the front of the stand; and

Figure 10 is a hinge detail.

In the illustrative construction shown in the drawings, I have shown a table II provided with suitable standards l2 which, at their bottoms (not shown) may terminate in casters by which the table may be conveniently rolled from one location to another. In accordance with my invention, the table II has the combined utility of 25 serving as a part of my improved bookstand and also as a posting table or the like at which the clerks using the books may work. For this purpose the table II, which may be advantageously 30 constructed of sheet metal, has a top which serves as a base [3 for the book supports, this base, or top of the table, being desirably inclined toward the front of the stand and therefore toward the user, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2, thus 35 permanently raising the rear margins of the books (that is, what might be commonly called the tops of the pages) for ready accessibility, and with other advantages later pointed out.

As best shown in Figure 1, I have indicated a 40 plurality of books, in this instance three, included in my improved stand and referred to as a whole as books A, B and C. In practice, there may frequently be as many as a dozen or more books such as the books A, B and C arranged as shown. Each of these books is carried by the base l3 through the intermediation of supports Hi, 15 and I6 respectively individual to each of the books and each substantially a counterpart of the other.

As best shown in Figure 2, each of these individual supports extends rearwardly of the stand substantially for the extent of the book, and normally rests on the inclined base l3 through the intermediation of four rubber feet I? preferably attached to each corner of each support as by stirrups I8 suitably secured, as by brazing or welding to the bottoms of the supports and each having a screw bolt I9 which passes through one of these stirrups and through a foot 11 and is clamped to the stirrup by a nut 26 (Fig. 6).

As clearly shown in Figure 1, these individual supports are thus arranged abreast, normally in parallel relation in a common plane parallel with all of the supports and passing through the sides thereof, this plane being also parallel to the inclined base l3. The base l3 also carries, at each end of the row of supports, and extending in the direction of the incline parallel with the sides of the supports, a pair of abutment members 2!. As here shown, each of these abutment members is in the form of a smooth plate of metal or the like similar to the construction of the table H and mounted thereon through the intermediation of brackets 22 suitably secured thereto and to the base [3 as at 23, each of the plates 2i being inclined not only in the direction of the incline of the base l3 but also being flared outwardly of the row of supports at each end thereof so as to present a surface to receive one of the covers of the end book parallel therewith, and thus prevent displacement of the books at each end of the row, and also provide an auxiliary support therefor.

When it is desired merely to refer to one of the pages of record sheets 24, for example, of say the middle book B, as shown in Figure 1, this may be done by opening the book to the sheet 24, whereupon the other books A and C, by reason of the usual flexibility of their contents, and also by reason of the articulated covers (later more specifically referred to) will be flexed torest upon the abutments 2i at each end. Thus any book can be consulted without moving it from its support and without moving the support. When, however, it is desired to make an entry, for example, on the record sheet 24, or to take out this sheet if the books are of the looseleaf style, or to insert another sheet adjacent thereto, I have provided in accordance with my invention, means for elevating each of the books above the normal common plane of the row of books, and also desirably forward of the row. In the example given with reference to the record sheet 24, the book B, as shown in Figure 2, is so elevated and moved forwardly. For this purpose, each of the supports l4, l5 and I6 is independently movable as stated, by being hinged to the base i 3 to move as a whole bodily and rectilinearly in an arc thereabove. In each case, however, the book next to the book being dealt with at the time, acts as an auxiliary support for the book which is opened.

In the present exemplary construction, each support is hinged at its front and rear end respectively, as at 25, 26 (Figure 4) to legs 21, 28, these legs being shown as metallic plates of double thickness for strength and in turn being hinged as at 29, 30 to the base 13. The hinges 25, 26, 29, 30 thus formed are in the nature of a pair of double-leaf hinges of the type including aligned cylindrical hinge lugs with pintles passing through the aligned lugs at best shown in Figure 3. Some of these lugs for example 3| are formed with the leg 21 while others 32 are formed integrally with the plate 33 which is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the base I3. As here shown the plate 33 is continued rearwardly to be bent in an upstanding angular portion 34, and this angular portion 34 receives therein an elongated block of rubber 35 or the like which affords a resilient stop, limiting the arc through which the support can be moved on the hinges referred to. For this purpose the stop cooperates with another plate-like member 36 hinged at one end as at 31 to the bottom of the support similarly to the members 21, 28 but free at its other end to move into and out of abutment with the stop 35. For this purpose the member 36 is longer than the members 21, 28 and is laterally extended at each side at its lower end as at 38 to project at each side beneath one of the pair of bars 39 elevated slightly above the base [3 as by being supported at one end by the plug 35 and at their other ends being bent angularly as at 40 and Welded to the base, thus providing a track for the lower end of the member 36. To minimize friction between the member 36 and the base, the lower end of the member 38 is shown turned at an angle toward the base and contacting the base at only two points through the rounded projections 4!. As best shown in Figures 3 and 5, the bars 39 each serve to provide such a track as just described for two adjacent supports without having the lateral extensions 38 interfere with each other. As best shown in Figure 3 also, the pintles for the hinges 29 and 30, and the parts of those hinges which are fixedly secured to the base 13 may extend throughout the row of supports, thus simplifying the construction.

Each of these individual supports I4, I 5, l6

as shown in Figure 4normally rests on the base i3 with the rubber feet l1 in contact therewith, these feet providing a resilient stop limiting downward movement of the supports, and the plate- like hinge members 21, 28 are folded downwardly between the support and the base, with their hinge attachment to the base located forwardly of their hinge attachment to the support. Thus, when the clerk or other user pulls forwardly on the handle 42 secured to the support, the support will be bodily elevated by the plate- like legs 21, 28 and at the same time will be moved forwardly toward the user, from the position shown in full lines in Figure 4 to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 4, and also shown in Figure 2. As clearly shown in Figure 4, the plate 36 constituting a part of the stop mechanism is arranged to strike the block 35 at a juncture where the support l5 as a whole has passed the zenith of its arcuate movement so that its weight, and the weight of the book thereon, tend to force the legs 21, 28 downwardly in a direction opposed by the member 36, thus maintaining the support in a stable elevated position, until the support is pushed back over the zenith of its are by the user. Other shock absorbing stop mechanism than the rubber feet l1 and rubber block 35 could be provided at each limit of movement of the support.

Each of the supports l4, l5 and I6 includes a main part, in this instance in the form of a metal elongated channel member 43 extending from front to rear of the stand, to which the plate- like legs 21, 28 and stop member 36 are hinged as already described. Extending in this same direction also are the upstanding sides 44 each hinged to the support as at 45 within the channeled member 43 and closely adjacent to the vertical portions 46 of the channel member 43. The sides 44 so hinged or otherwise movably held with respect to the support are free to swing toward and away from each other, their outward movement, or movement away from each other, being limited by the vertical portions 46 of the channel member 43. Their movement in-- wardly or toward each other is also desirably limited by abutment plates al secured within the channel member 13, these abutment plates being here shown superposed upon the leaves 45 of the hinges 45 which are also disposed within the channel member 43, the members 43, 4'! and 68 being all conveniently welded together.

In accordance with my invention, each of the book supports carries a pair of cradles, one of which is pivotally mounted along the upper edge of each of the sides 44. In the construction here described, these cradles each comprise an angular metal member extending longitudinally of the support and having one angular portion 59 hinged as at along the upper edge of the plate 51 forming a part of the side 44, so as to have free rotation about this edge. The other angular portion 52 of each cradle extends between the sides 44. These portions 52 approach each other by being spaced apart so as to be out of contact in all rotated positions of the cradles to provide for free movement of the cradles at least within the limits later referred to. In one limit of their downward rotative movement, that is inwardly of the sides 44, the cradles desirably contact the upstanding portions 53 of the hinge leaves 48 which, as best shown in Figure 9, assist in supporting the cradles and take the strain oif the hinges 50.

By reason of the plate-like member 54 welded for example to the angular portion 39 of the cradles, I desirably extend these portions in effect beyond the hinges 50. In further accordance with my invention, I provide wings 55 hinged to each of the cradles at their outer edges for limited swinging movement thereon outwardly thereof. For this purpose, for each wing, the plate '55 forming a part thereof, is hinged in the usual way as at 5'! to the outer (i. e. upper) edge of the plate 54 which projects over the hinge 50 as already explained, and to limit outward movement of the plate 56 with respect to the plate 55 (and therefore with respect to the cradle as a whole) the plate 56 has secured to its outer face another plate 58 which is extended beyond the hinge 5?.

toward the plate 54 to abut this latter plate when the wing 55 as a whole has moved outwardly'sufficiently to be at a predetermined angle with reference to the plate 54 of the cradle. Thus each wing 55, when pressed outwardly, acts as a lever tending to rotate its cradle upon its hinge 55 and to raise the angular portion 52 of the cradle away from its abutment 53, the plates 53 and 55, in outermost position of the wing, pivoting substantially as a unit about the hinge 59, as best shown in Figures 5, 8, 9 and 10. The plate members 58 of the wings 55 are desirably further extended in effect by resilient pads 60 advantageously formed of fibre board or the like suitably secured to the plate portions 58 as by rivets 5| (Figure 4).

The loose-leaf books A, B and C which I have here shown as a part of my improved bookstand, may be constructed in accordance with conventional practice for binders of this type, each book having the usual split back formed of two similar sections 62, each section carrying a set of sheetimpaling prongs 63 and 64 respectively, the back sections 62 being hinged together medially as at 65 in a conventional manner on a longitudinal axis extending medially of the support so that the 'sets of prongs 63 and 55, which are here shown staggered one with respect to the other, may be overlapped or may be separated, as desired. Hinged to each of the back sections 52 as at 55, also in accordance with conventional practice,

is a stiff plate-like cover section 61. In addition to these features of the book itself which are old, I have provided a second cover section 58 for each cover of each book articulated with the first section 51 as by being hinged thereto in any suitable manner as at 59, best shown in Figures 1 and 6. This articulation of the cover sections, in addition to their being hinged to the back, permits them to adapt themselves to the contour of the record sheets and of an adjacent book in the multiple unit in a highly advantageous man ner as will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, and as indicated clearly in Figure 1. At the same time, a flat at least partially rigid working surface is effected, which is lacking with the use of limp flexible covers, or with unarticulated stiff covers.

Each book is shown received in a support with its back carried jointly by the cradles. When it is desired merely to refer to a given page of any book, or to make a casual entry thereon, this may be readily done while the books are all in the same plane, as shown in Figure 1, the books acting substantially as a unit and the articulated covers making it unnecessary to move or rock the supports.

When, however, it is desired to make more extended entries on a given page of any book, or to remove or insert pages with respect thereto, the support for that particular book may be elevated by pulling upon the handle i2. At the same time, the cover sections 67, when the book is opened, impinge on the Wings 55. Thus as shown in Figures 5 and 8, at the initial opening of the book, the weight of the cover and the adjacent record sheets, tends to rock the cradle through the intermediation of the wing 55 about. the pivot point 50, and the rocking of the cradles in turn tends to separate the back sections 62 of the book. In order that the one side of the book may infiuence the other and that the cradles shall tend to rock together, the cradles are desirably pivoted together at at least one end of the support, in

this instance at the front end medially of the support as at 1B, the common pivot point of the cradles being movable vertically in a plane passing through the medial hinge of the book back. Bearings for the pivots 7B are provided in the transversely-extending members H and i2 carried respectively by the cradles of each support at this end. The plates H and 72 may be secured respectively to one of the angular portions of each cradle upon its side opposite the piate 54 and thereupon bent transversely into parallel overlapping relation, as best shown in Figures 5 and 7. One of these transverse members, in this instance the member "H, desirably extends substantially the entire width of the support to provide a mounting for the handle 42 already referred to.

It will be understood that the back sections 62 of the book may and usually do have means 2,8501 ciated therewith for locking these back sections together against relative rotation, so that the record sheets cannot fallout if andwhen the books are removed from the supports. In this case, it is desirable that when the books are inserted in my improved supports, they shall be automatically unlocked and remain unlocked while so assembled. To accomplish this, as best shown in Figure 7, I provide a plate 13 secured as by welding to the transverse member 12, the inner of these two transverse members, and this plate 13, having an inwardly projected abutment por tion 14 which, when a book is inserted, is adapted to overlap the edge of the back and retract the usual thumb-piece 15 which releases the locking mechanism, thus maintaining the book unlocked when in the support. To prevent displacement of the abutment 14 from contact with the thumbpiece 15, which is generally spring-impelled to locked position, the plate 13 is also shown having another inwardly projected extension 16 continued downwardly as best shown in Figure 9 to receive, between it and the adjacent cradle, the usual binding 1'! about the back of the book, which generally projects at each end of the book somewhat beyond the main portion 62 of the back sections. Another plate 18 on the other cradle having similarly inwardly projected extension 19 similarly engages the binding of the other back section. The inclination of the base l3 and the inclination given to the supports thereby, cooperating with the weight of the books, normally tends to maintain them in engagement with the abutment I4 and with the binding 11 under the extensions 16 and 19 to avoid casual displacement of the books.

When a book is so elevated and opened, as best shown in Figure 5, the tendency of the cradles to rock immediately comes into play and the back and cover sections of the book tend to assume a somewhat common plane. Two desirable results are thereby simultaneously achieved. In the first place, the record sheets assume a substantially flat position, firmly supported by the stiff cover sections (which in turn are supported either by an adjacent book or by one of the abutments 2|) so that the record sheets may be conveniently and efliciently written upon. Also, in the second place, the sets of prongs 53 and G4 are automatically at least partially rotated so that record sheets may be readily removed from or impaled upon the prongs, by reason of the usual perforations in the record sheets. Both of these highly desirable results are attained practicallyautomatically and with substantially no effort upon the part of the clerk or user of the book, since, by the construction described, the book when elevated finds its normal equilibrium in a substantially fully open position. By reason of this normal equilibrium, further opening or closing movements of the book, if desired, may be effected by the user by relatively slight rotative efforts exerted upon the handle 42.

The books or binders here shown may be of the well-known shift type in accordance with my invention set forth in my Letters Patent No. 1,269,479 of June 11, 1918, and the back sections 62 may be relatively movable longitudinally of each other, as well as rotatively, on their common hinge, or any other means in conjunction with my present invention may be provided for shifting the sets of prongs longitudinally whereby record sheets carried by the prongs may be offset in up and down directions with respect to each other to expose margins of the sheets for visibility. For this purpose the books are desirably unconfined at the rear of the present supports to permit such shifting.

In my co-pending application Serial No. 543,374, filed June 10, 1931, I claim broadly the pivoting of prong holding means (such as the cradle here shown) on a support apart from the pivot point to the prong holding means of a member associated with the binder cover (such as the wing here shown), and in my co-pending application Serial No. 752,219, filed November 9, 1934, I claim the pivoting of prong carrying means intermedially to a support whereby the prong carrying means is intermedially fulcrumed thereon.

Obviously the invention is not limited to details of construction here shown. Furthermore, it is not indispensable that all features of the invention be used conjointly as various combinations and sub-combinations may be advantageously employed.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a unitary bookstand, the combination of a platform, a plurality of book supports arranged abreast in a common plane on said platform and secured thereto, a book carried by each support, the supports being slightly spaced apart permitting opening of any book while the supports are in said plane, and means for elevating each of the supports with its respective book to a position above said plane while the book is in open position.

2. In a unitary bookstand, the combination of a base, a plurality of book supports secured to the base and arranged abreast in a common plane parallel with the base, a pair of cradles pivotally carried by each support, means carried by each support and mechanically connecting the cradles of a pair for transmitting motion of one cradle of a pair of cradles to cause pivoting of the other cradle, and means for elevating one of the supports with said cradles to a position above said plane.

3. In a unitary bookstand, the combination of a base, a plurality of supports secured to the base each by a pair of rigid legs articulated with the base and the support, said supports being arranged abreast in a common plane, and separate handles for elevating each of the supports selec- I tively to a position above said plane and forward of the other supports, by rotation of the legs on the base while maintaining the supports substantially parallel with the base and a book thereon in open position.

4. In a unitary bookstand, the combination of a base, a plurality of supports secured to the base and arranged abreast in a common plane, each said support having upstanding sides extending longitudinally thereof and transversely of the row of supports, said plane passing through said sides, and a pair of pivotally connected cradles eXtending longitudinally of the sides, and means for elevating and maintaining each of the supports in a position above said plane and forwardly of the said common abreast position.

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein each of the sides is hinged to the support to have limited swinging movement toward and away from each other transversely of the support.

6. The structure of claim 4 wherein the cradles are pivoted together in a plane passing lengthwise of the support medially or" the sides.

7. In a bookstand, the combination with a base, of a support carried by the base and having upstanding sides extending longitudinally thereof, a pair of cradles extending lengthwise of the support and each cradle pivoted along the upper edge of a side, and a wing hinged to the outer edge of a cradle for limited swinging movement outwardly thereon, whereby leverage applied to the wing tends to rock the cradle.

8. The structure of claim 7 wherein each of the sides is hinged to the support to have limited swinging movement toward and away from each other transversely of the support.

9. The structure of claim 7 wherein the cradles are pivoted together in a plane passing lengthwise of the support medially of the sides, the common pivot point of the cradles being movable vertically in said plane.

10. The structure of claim 7 wherein there are means for elevating and retaining the support independently in a selected position above the base, said means comprising rigid articulated members connecting the support to the base.

11. In a unitary structure of the class described, the combination with a base, of a plurality of book supports carried by the base arranged abreast in a common plane parallel to the base, each support having upstanding sides extending longitudinally thereof and transversely of the row of supports, said plane passing through said sides, of means carried by the base and connecting with the supports for elevating each of the supports selectively above said plane, a pair of cradles extending longitudinally of each support and each pivoted along the upper edge of a side, a wing hinged to the outer edge of each cradle for limited swinging movement on the cradle, a book carried by each of the pairs of cradles concentrically of the support, the covers of the book when spread apart to open the book being received upon the said wings and when the support is elevated tending to cant the wings apart whereby each wing acts as a lever to rock the cradles upwardly of the said sides and open the book still further.

2. The structure of claim 11 wherein the book carried by each support has a back formed of two sections hinged together medially and wherein the book has a pair of substantially stifi covers, each cover being formed in a plurality of articulated sections hinged to each of the back sections.

13. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a support, upstanding members at each side of the support, each member having limited swinging movement toward and away;

from the other member, a cradle associated with each upstanding member, each cradle comprising an angular member having one angular portion pivoted to the upstanding member, the other angular portion of the angular member extending between the upstanding members into proximity with the similar angular portion of the other cradle, a wing hinged to the first-mentioned angular portion of each cradle to have arcuate lateral movement relatively of the cradle limited by abutment with said first-mentioned angular portion whereby the wings act as levers to rotate the cradles on the upstanding members, a looseleaf book having a back formed of sections hinged together medially of the support, one of said sections being carried by each cradle and being rotated therewith relatively to the other section, a series of leaf impaling prongs carried by each back section, a plurality of record sheets impaled oneach set, a relatively stiff cover section hinged to each back section and adapted to be superposed on a respective wing, the weight of the cover and the sheets thereon tending tobalance the weight of the adjacent back section through the medium of the adjacent wing whereby the sheets and said back section tend to assume a common plane to provide a fiat working surface on the sheets.

14. The structure of claim 13 wherein the cradles are hinged together medially of the support to cause rotation of one cradle to rotate the other whereby to cause both back sections and both covers to tend to assume a common plane.

15. In a bookstand, the combination including a base, a support for an individual book carried by the base, said support being attached to the base by legs hinged to the base and the support whereby the support may be raised from or lowered to the base by an arcuate movement, upstanding sides on the support extending longitudinally of the support hinged thereto to swing toward and away from each other transversely of the support but having limited outward movement, a cradle carried by each side, each cradle comprising an angular member having one angular portion hinged to the upper edge of a side to rotate thereon and another angular portion extending between the sides toward and spaced from the similar angular portion of the other cradle, and a wing hinged to the first-mentioned angular portion of each cradle to have arcuate movement outwardly of the cradle limited by abutment with the first-mentioned angular portion whereby the wings act as levers to rotate the cradles.

16. The structure of claim 15 wherein a resilient stop limits movement of the support away from the base at a point where the support has passed the zenith of its arcuate movement, whereby the support is in a stable elevated position and another reslient stop limits movement of the support toward the base.

17. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a support, a loose-leaf binder having relatively rotatable back sections, a releasable lock mechanism carried by the binder normally preventing rotation of the back sections, a thumb-piece connected with and controlling -the lock mechanism, an abutment on the support adapted to engage the thumb-piece and move it to releasing position when the book is placed in position on the support, and a projection on the support overlying a back section when the book is in position on the support to guard against casual disengagement of the abutment from the thumb-piece.

18. The structure of claim 17 wherein the support is tilted whereby gravity assists in maintaining the abutment and thumb-piece in engagement.

19. The structure of claim 11 wherein the book carried by each support has a back formed of two sections hinged together medially of the support and the back carries a releasable lock mechanism for selectively preventing relative movement of the sections and wherein means are provided for releasing said lock, said last-mentioned means including an abutment on the support adapted to abut the locking mechanism of the book to maintain the latter in released position, and wherein the supports are permanently tilted whereby gravity maintains the said abutment and locking mechanism in contact.

20. lhe structure of claim 11 wherein the book carried by each support has a back formed of two sections hinged together medially of the support provided with a releasable lock for selectively preventing relative movement of the sections, said lock having a movable member wherein means are provided including an abutment on the support for contacting the movable member of the back for releasing said lock actuated by the position of the book on the support, wherein the cradles are pivoted together medially of the support, and wherein one of the cradles is provided with a handle whereby both cradles may be rocked simultaneously.

21. In a unitary bookstand, the combination of a base, a plurality of book supports secured to the base and arranged abreast in a common plane parallel with the base, a pair of cradles pivotally carried by each support, means carried by each support and mechanically connecting the cradles of a pair for transferring motion of one cradle of a pair of cradles to cause pivoting of the other cradle.

22. In a unitary bookstand, the combination of a base, a plurality of supports secured to the base each by a pair of rigid legs articulated with the base and the support, said supports being arranged abreast in a common plane, and each of said supports being adapted to be elevated to a position above said plane and forward of the other supports by rotation of the legs on the base while maintaining the supports substantially parallel with the base and a book thereon in open position.

23. In a unitary bookstand, the combination of a base, a plurality of supports rotatably seccured to the base and arranged abreast in a common plane, said plane being tilted slightly from the horizontal each said support having upstanding sides extending longitudinally thereof and transversely of the row of supports, said plane passing through said sides, and a pair of pivotally interconnected cradles extending longitudinally of the sides, whereby movement of one cradle causes movement of the other at all times.

24. In a bookstand, the combination with a base, of a support carried by the base and having upstanding members, a pair of cradles pivoted on the members, and a wing hinged to the outer edge of a cradle for limited swinging movement outwardly thereon, whereby leverage applied to the Wing tends to rock the cradle.

25. In a unitary structure of the class described, the combination with a base, of a book support carried by the base, means carried by the base and connected with the support for elevating the support, a pair of cradles pivoted on the support, a wing laterally projecting from each cradle and means limiting outward rotation of the wing on the cradle whereby when a book is carried by the pair of cradles the covers of the book when spread apart to open the book are received upon the said wings tending to cant the wings apart and the wings act as levers to rock the cradles upwardly and open the book still further.

26. In a unitary bookstand, the combination of a base, a pair of abutment members in the vicinity of each end of the base, a plurality of supports each for an individual book mounted abreast on said base between said abutment members, and means for elevating the supports individually above said base whereby one of the hool-zs carried by said support may be opened to a relatively great extent while supported jointly by said support and by the adjacent books and abutments.

ALFRED M. MARTIN.

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