US279787A

US279787A - Book-holder

Info

Publication number: US279787A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1883-06-19
Anticipated expiration: 1900-06-19

Description

(No Model.)

I. S. MUDGETT.

BOOK HOLDER.

' No. 279,787; Patented June 19,1883.

WZZW/ws N. PEYERS. Phulo-Lhbognphor. Washington. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OF ICE.

ISAIAH S. MUDGETT, OF PRINCETON, MINNESOTA.

BOOK-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 279,787, dated June 19, 1883. I

Application filed March 1.", 1983. (No model.)

To ail whom it may concern Be it known that I, ISAIAH S. MUDGETT, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Princeton, in the county of Mille Laos and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Book- Holders; and I doherebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyin g drawings, and to letters or figures of reference mark ed thereon, which form a p art of this specification.

This invention relates to a device for sup porting open books in convenient position to be read, its object being to provide a steady and durable book-support, which may be readily adjusted to support the book in a convenient position for the reader, and which will receive and hold open books of various sizes.

The invention consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts, which will be hereinafter particularly dcseribed,and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective View of a book-support coir structed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through one of the sliding back-supports and the main supportingshelf.

The letter A designates a vertical standard, the foot of which is removably inserted in a socket in a triangular base-block, B,to the sides of which are secured diverging projecting arms 0 O, which form an extension of the base. To the vertical standard A is fitted an adjustable sliding arm, D, through an opening in which the standardApa-sses. Be-

hind the standard the arm D is provided with a rigidlyattached block, E, through which passes a clamp-screw, F, the tip of which is arrangedto bear against theback of the standard and hold the arm D at any desired point of vertical adjustment. To the forward pro jecting portion of the arm D is transversely secured a book-supporting shelf, G, which is slightly inclined. In the opposite ends of the shelf G are formed transverse dovetailed grooves or recesses, in which are arranged correspondinglydovetailed slides H H, from the rear portions of which project upward the back-supports I I, which are secured at their lower ends to brace-blocks i i, which are in turn secured to the slides. In front of the back-supports I I the shelf G is provided, near its front edge, with cleats K K, which bridge'the transverse recesses in the shelf and lie above the slides H H. The back-supports I I support the backs of an open book, and the cleats K Khold the leaves down. Behind the blocks 1 77 openings or slots are formed in the slides H H at the point Z, and near the front edge of the shelf G are formed similar openings at the point Z, which intersect the transverse recesses in said shelf.

Referring to Fig. 2, the letter M indicates an elastic band,which lies under the slide H, and has one end passed upward through the opening in said slide at 7, and the other end passed downward through the opening in the shelf G at Z, the projecting ends of this band being secured on the upper side of slide H and lower side of shelf G, respectively. Each of the slides H is connected with an elastic band, as shown in Fig. 2, and the tension of these bands is such that they will draw the slides II forward and hold the back-supports I normally in contact with the cleats K. 2 I have shown the back-support I back a little from the cleat.

The diverging arms 0 O of the base are pro vided with adjustable slotted foot-pieces n, which may be swung downward and adjusted to elevate the front ends of said arms 0, and may be secured as adjusted by means of the thumbscrews 0 0. The object of these foot-pieces is to enable the book-support to be tilted back to place the book at any inclination which the reader may find convenient, or so as to suit the same to an inclined desk.

In using my improved book-support the book is opened and its back placed against the back-supports I I, which are then pressed rearward until the front of the book sits down behind the cleats K K. The lower end of the In Fig. pressed book then resting upon the shelf G, the elastic level, and may be there secured by again tightening up the screw. When it is desired to turn a leaf, either of the slides may be pressed slightly rearward and thus snifieiently loosen one side of the book to enable the leaf to be turned.

Vhen the book-support is not in use it may be taken apart by removing the standard A from its socket in the base B, loosening the screw F, and removing the arm D from the standard. The parts may be then laid away until required for use.

Having now fully described my invention and explained the operation thereof, I wish it to be' understood that I do not confine myself to the precise shapes of the various parts shown in my drawings, but may vary the same in any manner for the better carrying out of my invention without departing from the essential principle thereof.

hat I. claim is 1. The combination, with the vertical standard and base and adjustable arm D, of the boolcsupporting shelf G, secured to said arm and provided with the cleats near its front edge, and the automaticallyadjustable booksupports I I, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the standard and base, the shelf G, adjustably attached to said standard and having transverse recesses and cleats near its front edge, ofthe slides arranged in said recesses, the back-supports projecting upwardly from said slides, and the elastic bands M, secured at their opposite ends to the said slides and the shelf, respectively, substan tially as described.

3. The combination, with the standard, adjustable book-supporting shelf, and attachments, as described, of the base B, provided with the diverging arms 0 C, and the adjustable foot-pieces n a, substantially as described.

4. The herein-described book-support, consisting of the standard A, mounted on a suitable base, the arm 1), adjustable vertically on said standard, the transversely-inclined b0ok-supporting shelf G, secured to said arm and provided with transverse recesses and cleats K K, bridging said recesses,thc slides H H,arranged in. said recesses, the backsupports I I, project ing upward from said slides, and the elastic bands M,lying in said recesses under the slides, and having their opposite ends secured to the rear portions of said slides and to the front portion of the shelf, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affixmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

ISAIAH S. l\IUI)GETT.

' \Vitnesses:

E. \V. JOHNSON, LAMECH DUVALL.