US2661568A - Bookholder - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 8, 1953 N. l. STARK 2,661,568

BOOKHOLDE R Filed Aug. 27, 1948 Cttornegs Patented Dec. 8, 1953 BOOKHOLDER Nathan I.'Stark, West Orange, N. J.; Dorothy Stark, administratrx of said Nathan I. Stark.v

deceased Application August 27, 1948, Serial No. 46,379

` claims. (c1. is-57') This invention is concerned with improvements in book-holders with special reference to a clip form of book-holder that may serve as a book-end and/or book-rest; the present invention constituting an improvement on the invention disclosed in a prior patent, Number 1,942,456 granted me on January 9, 1934, for Bookholder.

The invention is concerned particularly with improvements in the features of construction of this type of book-holder by means of which it may be manufactured by simple inexpensive production methods in large quantities and with its novel means for operatively distorting certain engaging portions thereof to facilitate engagement with the cover-boards of a book 4or other suitable l.

objects.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a one piece form of this type of bookholder that will not require any assembly in its construction.

A still further and important object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive means for operating its engaging portions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a one piece reading-rest in a clip form of a bookend so that it may always be handy for immediate use and easily disposed of after use as a readingrest, as a book-end between and at the ends of books on library shelves or as book-ends on desks and tables.

And still another object of the inventionis the provision of a one piece book-end that is engageable with a similar book-end to form an easel stand having a projecting shelf for supporting books and reading matter in an inclined position thereon.

These and other objects are successfully secured by means of the construction herein disclosed, as will be apparent from the following description.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of one form of this invention in a position that may serve as a book-end;

Figure 2 is a perspective View of the invention showing the engaging portions operatively distorted for engagement;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a pair of the book-ends shown in Figure 1 serving to prop up a book in open position;

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing method of distorting engaging portions; and

Figure 5 is a perspective View showing method of engaging one of a pair of the book-ends with the other to form an easel stand.

The particular embodiment shown in the drawing for the purpose of illustrating the preferred form of this invention, is preferably made from a length of at-wiremetal and `formed into a plurality of bends with both ends thereof remaining free, but other forms of this invention may be constructed from various shaped rods of suitable material although a Hat-sided material is preferred and may be of metal or asuitable plastic and formed by bending, molding or die blanking and forming. f

The device comprises two side-by-side base panels and two side-by-side support panels,

the latter being positionedin a plane transverseto the plane of the former. In its preferred form, the entire ,device is made vfrom a single strip of elastic material, either of .metal or of stiff plastic. The term elastic ,is used in its technical sense, as referring to springiness, i. e., the tendency to recover quickly .after distortion. In Figure 1, it will be seen that .the panels forming the base memberare formed of two loops of this strip, the adjacent or inner legs A and B of eac-h loop being substantially parallel -to the outer legs C and D, which are spaced from A and B laterally, in the plane of the base. These outer legs are connected, acrossone end of the base men1- ber, by `a bridge portion G; and each outer` leg, at the opposite end of the base member, is connected by a bridge portionE or F to the appropriate inner leg, A or B respectively. p

The, inner legs A and B are bent, transversely of the plane of the base, along a line O-N whichis parallel to the bridge portion G. They thus rise from the plane of the base inn side-by-side rela- K tionship, forming the inner legs H, I of the loops which constitute the prop member. They are relversely bent outwardly, as at L and M, andl their extremities J and K extend towards the plane of the base member but `preferably terminat short of that plane. Y l y 'I'he upright or prop members H--I are n ormally parallel with each other, but may be moved laterally to an inclined position therefrom when it is desired to distort the base `for engagement purposes.

In constructing the invention the flat sides of the flat-wire are bent to lie flatwise with the plane in which its various members are formed.

In using the device of the present invention, the loops of the prop member are grasped with one hand, scissor-fashion, as shown in Figure 4, and are spread outwardly from each other by opening the hand. This involves distortion of the entire structure, part of the twist being taken up in the bridge or connecting member G, part 3 in the links E and F, andv part of it in the twisting of the inner and outer legs of the respective loops. Obviously, the central elements H, I of the prop member will no longer be adjacent or substantially parallel, but the inner legs A, B of the base will maintain substantially parallel relationship during thisoperation.. With. the. outer. loops spread apart7 as; just: describedy itv becomes" a simple matter to apply the base member to the upper edge of the binding board of a standardA book cover. When this is done, as is clearly seen in Figure 3, the outer legs of the base memltierir C, D and also the bridging connection Gwill lie on one side of the cover board'whereas the-,innen adjacent legs A, B will lie on the opposite side. The tortional stress imposed by distortion of the device will cause the cover boarditobefrmlyfheldi between the outer legs and the inner legs of the, base member.

The ease with which thedevice may be applied tof` book4 cover boards; asv just described; consti:- tutes a substantial" advantage, sincev there no. necessityl forc rubbing or. sliding? contact; which mightY otherwiseg` scar* or damage the'v surface of the binding. This feature of; pre-opening` the engaging1 members for engagement isfvery useful for engaging many other. suitable objects including the. book-endsu as illustrated-i in the drawing; the similar members beingall' spaced alike gagingmembers. may be made without departing 4 from. the principles of' my invention. I, therefrevdo not wish to be. limited to the precise de'- tails ofconstruction set forth,ybutv desire to avail myself of such. variations andi modications as come withinA the. scope.. offthe. appended' claims.

What is, claimedi is:

1. A- book-holder comprising, am integran piece off: flat-wire.v bent edgewise near. the .middleyinl sub:- stantially one plane toiorIrLa maior; loophaVing substantially.y parallel sides, said; flatfwire.. having bothY itsv ends further. bentedgewi'se inwardly in thesame. planete formtwoinwardloopsthat. are integraland.paralleLwithQthe sides of saidimajor loop;l said ends. being further. bent at.. anang-le out of the plane of the major: looplto-:providea pair of side-by-side. suppor.ts each; incorporating a. loop in. the plane. of, saidrr supports andlying generally naplane transverse. to. the plane` of saidY major. loop.

2. A book-holder comprising an integral piece of nat-wire bent edgewise near the middle in substantially one plane to form a major loop having substantially parallel sides, said flat-wire having both its ends further bent edgewise inwardly in the same plane to form two inward loops that are integral and parallel with. thesidesof` said major loop;4 Said ends being further bent: at. an angle transversely of the plane of the major loop and lying generally in a plane transverse to the plane ofA said major loop. y

3i A book-holder comprising a piece of nat-wire describinga loop at each of its ends to form dual prop.. members' constituting a support-side and further formng,2..base consisting of two loops at an angle transverse to said support-side and a comreeting'memben integral with said loops, all the, elements of said base normally lying in one plane, but at least the connecting member being of elastic material and being distortable out of saidfplaneA bynrovement offsaid' prop members.

4'; A book' holder'- comprising a supporty side having a pair of movablepl'anar elements with their'inneredges normally together; a base-memloer` extending transversely4 to the plane of`saidj elements; having side and1 central' portions nor;- mally lying in the sameplane; distortable connections between said side-and central portions; and connections between saidY planar elements and; saidI central portions constrainingA the said portions to move out of their normalplane upon separating movement of said'planar elements, to provide an openingI betweenV said' side portions and said central'portions to-receive-and resiliently securel the cover ofr a1 book'.

5. A book holder comprising a planar' base member' and a support positioned' in al plane transverse the planeof the base member, said base member comprising t'wo adjacent loops of elastic material, each having, substantially parallelinnerand outerl'egs; joined' at oneend by an elastic link bridgingA theA outer legs and at the other end by apair-ofelastic linksl each connect'- ingl one outer leg'with anv inner leg; the adjacent inner legs' rising transversely' of'thef plane of the base member to f'ormv adjacent and substantially parallel central" elementsl ofthe support member, said" central elements being reversely bent outwardly, to form a pairA ofl'ateral" wing members; the reversely bent outer extremities being also in the plane of" the support and' terminating adjacent the plane of' the basemembeiu References` Cited in thefle of.T this-.patentA UNITED STATES PATENTS Number. Name Datet D. 34,353 Daniels Apr. 9", 1991 4903569' Lehman. Jan; 24', 1893 1,310,281 Clark July 15, 1919 1,804,455Y Bodine et. all May 12, 1931 1,942,456 Stark Jan. 9, 1934 2,017,413 La Mort Oct. 15,1935

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