US2977712A

US2977712A - Book supporting device

Info

Publication number: US2977712A
Application number: US752060A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edmond M Carriere
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1958-07-30
Filing date: 1958-07-30
Publication date: 1961-04-04
Anticipated expiration: 1978-04-04

Description

April ,1 E- M. CARRIERE 2,977,712

BOOK SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed July so; 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A TTOF/VE XS Apnl 4, 1961 E. M. CARRIERE: 2,977,712

BOOK" SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed July so, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet z Q! (ya/4 INVENTOR.

United States Patent 2,977,712 BOOK SUPPORTING DEVICE EdmondM. Carriere, 1209 Broadway Ave Galvestom'Tex.

Filed July 30, 1958, Ser. No. 752,960

4 Claims. (CI. 4580) This invention relates to adjustable supporting devices for articles such as books, papers and drawing boards.

It is an object of this invention to provide a. device for supporting writing surfaces and reading material, which is adjustable to different positions to accommodate the most comfortable and relaxed position of a reader.

A further object of this invention is to provide such a supporting device which is adjustable to several dif' ferent planes to minimize eye strain, improve the comfort of the user, and facilitate writing or drawing.

In the attainment of these objectives a main support pivoted at one end toya rectangular frame has right and left panels pivotally connected along each side. A manually controlled mechanism moves the main support about its pivot while separate mechanisms turn the right and left panel members about axes normal to the pivotal axis of the main support. Paper retaining clips or book holding plates may be arranged on the panels as desired.

Additional objects and features of the invention will appear from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a supporting device embodying my invention in its preferred form;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of my book support showing the parts in different positions elevated'relative to the frame member;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on lines 3-3 of Fig. I;

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on lines 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on lines 5--5 of Fig. l; I

Fig. 6 is a partial elevational view taken on lines 6-6 ,of Fig. 1 and partially showing the book stop devices;

surface such as a desk. A hinge 9 connects an elongated main support 10 for pivotal movement about an edge' of the frame 8. On each long side of main support 10 are right and left hand support panels 11 and 12 respectively. When main support 10 and right and left hand panels 11 and 12 are in a horizontal position, their total. area substantially covers the top of frame 8.

Hinges 13 on main support 10 have interleaved parts 14 coupling panels'll and 12 to main support 10. These hinge parts are pivotally coupled by pins 16 so panels 11 and 12 may be turned relative to the main support 10 about axis normal to the axis of the pivotal connection between main support 10 and frame 8.

Bearings 17 and 18 mounted on

frame sides

19 and 20 rotatably support a lead screw 21. Follower 22 threadably engaged with lead screw 21 carries a bifurcated part 23 in which one end of lever 24 is pivotally connected. Theother end of lever 24 is pivotally connected to the main support .10. A crank 25 rotates lead frame 8 which is adapted to overlie and rest upon a flat screw 21 to move follower 22 to the right or left and,

through lever 24, turns mainsupport 10 about its pivotal axis.

Brackets 26, 26 and 27, 27 rotatably support a pair of shafts 28 and 29.

Bevel gears

30 and 31 mounted intermediate the ends of shafts 28 and 29 are journaled in a bearing member 32 and mesh with

bevel gears

33 and 34 which are also journaled in bearing member 32.

Flexible driving connectors

35 and 36 couple bevel gears 33'and 34'tocranks 37and 38 journaled at 39 and 39' in frame side 20. I

Connecting

rods

40, 40 and 41, 41 pivotally connected to panels 11 and 12 are given translative movement by

arms

42,and 43 which rotate with shafts 28 and 29. Movement of

arms

42 and 43 and connecting

rods

40, 40 and 41, 41 turns panels 11 and 12 about an axis normal to the pivotal axis of main support 10.

When it is desired to position the supporting surface and the reading material carried thereby at a preferred reading plane, crank 25 is rotated tovmove the main supporting surface 10 towards the reader. If the reading material is a book, and it is desired to have the pages of the book at a position more comfortable to the eye of the reader, rotation of cranks. 37 and 38 turns the right and left panels 11 and 12 about main support 10 to the desired position.

Plates 44 mounted on the right-and left panels prevent slippage of material therefrom. The projection of plates 44 above the surface of each panel member is adjustable by means of screw fasteners 45 passing through cam slots 46, as shown in Fig. 6.

Snap-on strips 47, which may be spring metal or other resiliently flexible material secure reading material such as loose sheets of paper or pamphlets to each panel mem ber. Friction elements 48 secured to each snap-on strip prevents slippage of the material from beneath each snap-on strip.

While I have described a specific embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent 'to those skilled in the art that the disclosed embodiment is capable of modification. Therefore the foregoing description is to be considered exemplary rather than limiting and a true scope of my invention is that defined by the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. A book supporting device comprising a frame adapted to overlie a desk surface, a support pivotally connected at one end to said frame, a panel pivotally connected at one side to one edge of said support for rotation about an axis normal to the axis of the pivotal connection between said support and said frame, means adapted to overlie a surface, a centrally located support pivotally connected at one end to said frame, a first panel pivotally connected at one side to one edge of said support for rotation about an axis normal to the axis of the pivotal connection between said support and said frame, a second panel pivotally connected at one side to the other edge of said support for rotation about an axis normal to the axis of the pivotal connection be tween said support and said frame, means connected between said support and saidframe for turning said support about its pivotal axis in relation to said frame, and means respectively connected between said first and second panels and said frame for turning said panels about their pivotal axes relative to said support and said frame.

r 3. A book supporting device comprising a frame nected atone end to said frame, a panel pivotally connected at one'side to said support for rotation about an axis normal to the axis of the pivotal connection between said'supportand said frame, manually operated meanson said frame and connected between said support and tsaidf'rame for turning saidsupport about its pivotal axis in relation to said frame, and manually operated means on said frame coupled to linkage connections between said. panel and saidsupportfor turning said panel about i 1 its pivotal axis relative to said support and said frame.

4. A book supporting device comprising a frame adaptedto overlieal surface, a' centrally located support pivotally connected at one end to saidframe, a first.

panelpivotally connected at one side to said support for rotation about an axis normal to the axis of the pivotal connection between said support and said frame,

adapted'to overlie a surface,,a support pivotally cona second panel pivotally connected at one side to the other side of said support for rotation about an axis 'normal to the axis of the pivotal connection between References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 564,964 Blackmer Aug. 4, 1896 1,197,233 Plamondon et al. Sept. 5, 1916 2,639,541 Le Tang May 26, 1953