US2916848A

US2916848A - Combined loose-leaf binder and book stand

Info

Publication number: US2916848A
Application number: US737796A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ewald O Schlachter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1958-05-26
Filing date: 1958-05-26
Publication date: 1959-12-15
Anticipated expiration: 1976-12-15

Description

Dec. 15, 1959 E. o. SCHLACHTER 2,916,848

COMBINED LOOSE-LEAF BINDER AND BOOK STAND Filed May 26, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet J.

Dec. 15, 1959 E. o. SCHLACHTER COMBINED LOOSE-LEAF BINDER AND BOOK STAND Filed May 2 1 8 2 Sheets-s 2 ENTOR,

/mll i Q MM United States Patent COMBINED LOOSE-LEAF BINDER AND BOOK STAND Ewald 0. Schlachter, Oakland, Calif. Application May 26, 1958, Serial No. 737,796

2 Claims. (Cl. 45-80) The subject of this invention, hereafter called the stand, is a device for the advantageous display of a book, manuscript, chart, or analogous article. More specifically, the subject of this invention is a collapsible device of said kind. Still more specifically, the subject of this invention is a device which may be used as a stand of said kind and as a loose-leaf binder.

The ubiquitous use of books and said analogous articles has made obvious the need for a means of displaying them in an attitude convenient for reading and reference. Consequently, the art abounds with pertinent designs. None, however, has attained universal acceptance. It seems that among the reasons for this non-acceptance are functional deficiency and, especially, ditficulty in handling, transporting, and storing.

It is accordingly one object of this invention to provide a stand which will display a book or said analogous article as aforesaid. Another object of this invention is to provide a stand of said kind which will be collapsible for transport and storage. A further object of this invention is to provide a device which may be used as a stand of said kind and also as a loose-leaf binder. A still further object of this invention is to provide, by combination of two functions as aforesaid, a device which will be low in cost. It is further contemplated to provide a device which, by its incorporation into the already widely used loose leaf binder, will provide convenience without exacting special attention.

These and incidental objects are accomplished by the unique combination of certain novel features of construction in such a way that a new and useful device is produced which will satisfy the need cited above.

In order that the invention may be practiced by others, it will now be described in terms of an express embodiment, given by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows the principle of the invention.

Fig. 2 shows the application of the principle to the combination with a loose-leaf binder.

Fig. 3 shows operational details of the combination in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 shows details which illustrate collapsibility.

Fig. 5 shows the clamps.

Fig. 6 shows the clamps attached and certain cut-outs.

Fig. 7 shows further operational details.

The stand (Fig. 1 and Fig. 2) comprises certain functional elements, namely, a front support 10, a dorsum 11, a rear support 12, a yoke 13, a clamp holder 14, and

clamps

15 and 16. I In combination with a loose-leaf binder (Fig. 2), the front support 10, the dorsum 11, and the rear support 12 serve in two capacities. The elements to 14 are made of stiff material and, forming rectangles of equal length but unequal width, are flexibly joined (Fig. 1 and Fig. 2) at

points

17, 18, 19, and 20. The ratio of their dimensions is roughly indicated by the dimensions of a loose-leaf binder (Fig. 2).

The clamps 15 and 16 (Fig. 5) are made of strips of resilient material. Their construction is characterized by resistance to separation of

sections

21 and 26.

Sections

22 and 23 are brought back with respect to section 21 and, by entering cut-outs 28 and 29 (Fig. 6), aid in con serving space, as shown in Fig. 4. The bent section 27 aids in operation. The clamps, conveniently attached to clamp holder 14, and the cut-outs are located near the ends of the clamp holder 14 and yoke 13, respectively.

The operation of the stand is as follows: Beginning with the collapsed stand (Fig. 4), the user seizes the front support 10 with one hand and tilts it so that the rear support 1;! hinges outward. Next he seizes the clamp holder 14 with the other hand and inserts the free edge 30 of the front support 10 between the

clamps

15 and 16 and the clamp holder 14 (Fig. 7). Placing the stand, which now forms a trigonally stabilized structure as schematized in Fig. 1, upon a supporting surface, the user then inserts the covers 25 of a book between the

clamps

15 and 16 and the front support 10, leaving the pages free (Fig. 2).

These manipulations have installed the book or said analogous article firmly in substantial contact with the front support 10 so that the stand may now be moved, by pushing or pulling, about said supporting surface. It may also be lifted without danger of collapse. Moreover, as evident from Fig. 2, when the device is used as a stand of said kind in the manner aforesaid, the sheets of

paper

31, 32, 33, 34, etc. are not impinged upon. Also, as suggested by Fig. 4, the collapsed device may be opened to serve as a loose-leaf binder without impairment of that function. The two functions are therefore compatible.

As will at once occur to the artisan, various arrangements are possible within the scope of the invention. For example, means to fix the front support 10 and the rear support 12 in the shown relation may be incorporated in the dorsum, thereby dispensing with the yoke 13 and the clamp holder 14. Also, means to receive and hold a flat object may be disposed on both sides. This particularly in conjunction with a swivel base which may be raised, as on a pintle, above the supporting surface, whereby the space under the stand is made available. It is contemplated that such an arrangement would be particularly convenient in schools where limited desk space often pre sents a problem.

Having now described and illustrated the general form of my invention and one specific embodiment, I wish it to be understood that my invention is not necessarily limited to the specific form or arrangement described or shown or expressly covered in my claims.

I claim:

1. In a loose-leaf binder including at least a front cover, a dorsum, and a rear cover, that improvement which comprises: a first panel hingeably attached to said rear cover; a second panel hingeably attached to said first panel; means attached to said second panel whereby said second panel may be engaged with said front cover; and means to receive a flat object and hold it in substantial tangency with said front cover.

2. An improved loose-leaf binder according to claim 1, distinguished in that said means to engage said second panel with said front panel serve simultaneously to receive flat objects and hold them in substantial tangency With said front cover.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,488,282 Phillips Mar. 25, 1924 1,923,351 Woodley Aug. 22, 1933 2,173,379 Smith Sept. 19, 1939 2,224,530 Weinstein Dec. 10, 1940 2,550,279 Mamer Apr. 24, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 7 31,014 Austria July 15, 1907 286,004 Great Britain Feb. 27, 1928 299,654 Switzerland Sept. 1, 1954