US3813074A

US3813074A - Book stand

Info

Publication number: US3813074A
Application number: US00251445A
Authority: US
Inventors: C Mulvaney
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-05-08
Filing date: 1972-05-08
Publication date: 1974-05-28
Anticipated expiration: 1991-05-28

Abstract

This invention consists of a horizontally disposed rectangular base that is supported above ones lap by means of a rectangular supporting wing that is hingedly secured to the underside of each longitudinal edge of the base. A pantograph type support is swingably secured for vertical adjustment to the upper longitudinal edge of the aforesaid rectangular base. A rectangular book rest is swingably secured between and to the upper point of the two already-mentioned pantograph type supports. The book rest is provided with structure adapted to hold the book or the like in place on the said rest in any desired position for easy reading.

Description

United States Patent 1 1 Mulvaney 1 1 May 28, 1974 1 BOOK STAND 221 Filed: May 8,1972

21 App]. No.: 251,445

[52] US. Cl. 248/452, 248/464 [51] Int. Cl A47b 23/00 [58] Field of Search 248/421, 444, 441, 456, 248/464 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 733,100 7/1903 Werner i 248/456 1,754,974 4/1930 Warfield 248/421 X 1,851,178 3/1932 l-lebig 1 1 248/421 X 2,271,294 1/1942 Ford 243/444 3,652,051 3/1972 McFarlane 248/464 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 83,380 11/1955 Denmark 248/188.2

Primary Examinerwilliam H. Schultz [57] ABSTRACT This invention consists of a horizontally disposed rectangular base that is supported above ones lap by means of a rectangular supporting wing that is hingedly secured to the underside of each longitudinal edge of the base. A pantograph type support is swingably secured for vertical adjustment to the upper longitudinal edge of the aforesaid rectangular base. A rectangular book rest is swingably secured between and to the upper point of the two already-mentioned pantograph type supports. The book rest is provided with structure adapted to hold the bookor the like in place on the said rest in any desired position for easy reading.

2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures BOOK STAND This invention relates to book stands; more particularly, to book stands adapted for use by a person reclining on a bed or sitting in a chair; still more particularly, to a book stand that straddles the body of the person using the stand.

While there are any number of different kinds of book stands commercially available, none so far as is known are completely adjustable while still not depending on a pedestal that can be knocked over, or resting on the body of the person using the same.

It is therefore the principal object of this invention to provide a book stand, which I personally call a reading stand, that is not only fully adjustable but also straddles the body of the person using the stand and is therefore stable and will not let the book or papers fall off the stand.

Another object of this invention is to provide a book stand of the character described that permits the stand to be fully adjustable so that the reading matter placed on the stand will be at the desired eye level for easy reading with little or no strain on the eyes from improper placement of the book or the like before the eyes.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a book stand that is light in weight, stable when in use, and one that can quickly and easily be folded into a compact unit that takes up a minimum of space when not in actual use.

Other and further objects and advantages of this novel invention will no doubt appear to those experienced in the art upon the reading of this specification and its appended claims and the examination of the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIG. I is a pictorial view of this invention ready for use.

FIG. 2 is a side view of this invention folded and ready for storage.

In the two views of this invention in the accompanying drawing, like parts of the book stand are indicated by like reference numbers. The reference number 5 indicates this invention in its entirety.

Directing ones attention first to FIG. 1 of the drawing it will be seen that this book stand 5 consists of a flat, rectangular, and horizontally disposed base 6 having a large U-shaped recess 7 in one end thereof, and an elongated laterally disposed opening 8 in the other end. This just-mentioned opening 8 provides a means of picking up and carrying this invention from place to place. An angle iron 9 is located on each longitudinal side of the aforesaid base 6 for the purpose of providing both support and securement for the

lower legs

10 and 11 of the pantograph type support 12 of this invention. These aforesaid legs are also sometimes called lazy tongs. A metal rod 13 extends between one endof the aforesaid angle irons 9 and in fact has its ends projecting through both the just-mentioned angle irons and the lower end of the legs 11 of the aforesaid pantograph type support 12. Examination of FIG. 1 of the drawing clearly shows that this invention is provided with two of the supports I2, one on each side of the device. A laterally disposed rod 14 is integrally formed with the lower end of each of the two lower legs I0 of the pantograph type supports 12. The ends of the rod I4 are placed in any of the angularly disposed recesses 15 that are located in the vertical legs 16 of the angle irons 9, as one can see by examination of the alreadymentioned FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawing.

Continuing to look at FIG. 1 of the drawing it will be seen that a rectangular supporting wing 17 is hingedly secured to the underside of each longitudinal edge of the aforesaid flat base 6, thereby providing a support of the often-mentioned flat base 6 of this invention above the lap of the user of this book stand. One of the bars 18 of the aforesaid pantograph type support 9 is in the form of an angleiron for reasons of rigidity and stability of the device. The uppermost point of each aforesaid pantograph type support 9 provides swingable support for the book rest 19. This book rest is a rectangular member having an elongated opening 20 in the upper portion thereof and a laterally disposed angle iron 21 on the lower edge thereof for the resting and stop of the bottom of the book 22 or whatever other reading matter that may be placed on this invention. Two L-shaped page holders 23 are swingably secured to the legs 24 of the angle iron 21 while two other page holders 25 are also swingably secured to angle irons 26 that are suitably connected to the same screw that passes through the previously mentioned uppermost point of the two pantograph type supports 9. Wing nuts 27 on the outer end of each just-mentioned screw provide a means of firmly holding the aforesaid book rest 19 since one end of each screw is suitably secured to one side of the book rest 19 although this portion of the invention is not shown in detail in the drawing since this form of construction is well known in the art for it can also be found on other devices. No claim for this detail is therefore made in this specification.

It is obvious from examination of the alreadymentioned FIG. 1 of the drawing how this invention is used and for this reason no description need be given in this specification.

This invention is subject to any and all changes in detail design and or modifications that one may care to make in so long as the changes and or modifications all fall within the scope and intent of the appended claims. The invention can be made of any desired material and or combinations of materials.

What I now claim as new is:

1. A book stand of the character described, comprising a horizontally disposed rectangular base having two folding pantograph supports positioned one each along the longitudinal edges thereof, the legs of said support each being integrally connected at the lower ends thereof by laterally disposed horizontal rods, one of said rods so connecting the lower pantograph legs being swingingly connected at opposite corners of said base, and the other so connecting the lower pantograph legs is free to be disposed at various longitudinal positions on the rectangular base through pantograph action by the manual operation of the uppermost corresponding legs of said pantograph, and so firmly adjusting the height of a rectangular book rest which is swingingly secured through its lateral axis to the uppermost points of the respective pantograph supports, said rectangular base being provided with a rectangular laterally disposed opening having rounded ends in the portion of said base furthermost from the user or rear thereof for handling or carrying the book stand when it is not in reading use; and an angle iron fastened on the upper side of each longitudinally disposed edge of said rectangular base for holding the two pantograph type supports, with spaced recesses in the upstanding edge of said angle irons for positioning longitudinally the lower legs of the pantograph supports which are connected by the other of said rods, said book rest being a planar member having a normally extending shelf at its lower edge and provided with a plurality of page holders, two of which are swingingly connected to the shelf and two page holders which are each swingingly connected to small clip angle irons which in turn are swingingly connected to screws that pass through the respective uppermost points of the two pantograph supports, these latter page holders being adjustable by rotation parallel to the surface of the book rest to contact any desired place on the book page, and also by rotation perpendicularly or normal to the surface of the book rest to adjust for books of varying thicknesses.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said base is provided with a pair of rectangular supporting wings, which are hingedly secured to the underside of respective opposite longitudinal edges of said base, thereby when extended holding the base above the lap or body of the use; said supporting wings being so hinged and stopped as to be firm in the extended position inclined to provide a base at the points of support on a chair or bed, wider than the upper hinged width, whereby each supporting wing provides lateral thrust against the other supporting wing giving greater lateral stability to the invention; each supporting wing having laterally disposed openings with rounded ends that, when the wings are folded under the base, are positioned opposite the opening in said base for conveniently holding and carrying the book stand.