US488983A

US488983A - Christian s

Info

Publication number: US488983A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1893-01-03
Anticipated expiration: 1910-01-03

Description

(No Model.)

0. s. BYRKIT. BOOK HOLDER.

Patented Jan. 3, 1893.

Km emY ak, a 8 W UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTIAN S. BYRKIT, OF DES MOINES, IOWA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO LEW C. SMITH, OF SAME PLACE.

BOOK-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 488,983, dated January 3, 1893. Application filed December 21, 1891- Serial No. 415,831. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN S. BYRKIT, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Des Moines, in the county of Polk and State of Iowa, have invented an Improved Portable Book-Holder, of which the following is a specification.

My object is to provide a simple, light, convenient and cheap book holder adapted to to support a book closed, when not in use, and open at the side of a person seated in a chair as required to facilitate the use of the book for reference or for reading.

My invention consists in the device com- I 5 posed of parts permanently connected as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claim, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of myinvention showing the adjustable parts in position as required to hold a book when closed. Fig. 2 is a corresponding view showing it in an open position. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view showing the position of one of the hinged wings supported in a vertical position by means of a gravitating latch pivoted thereto, and the other hinged wing in a horizontal position and the latch pivoted thereto in position as required to brace the wing to support a book in an open position. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the latches.

A represents a stand, preferably composed of three pieces to produce a light tripod, and connected at their contiguous central por- 3 5 tions by means of a block and screws, as shown, or in any suitable Way, and connected at their tops by means of wooden boards B and O fixed thereto in parallel position and pieces of molding D and D fixed on top of the boards and also in parallel position to produce a platform adapted to support a book. It is immaterial whether the top composed of the pieces B and C is in two parts or one. WVhen a single piece of board is used slots or 5 openings are provided in its end portions to admit the ends of latches as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. To the stand and base thus constructed wooden wings Nos. 1 and 2 corresponding in size and shape with the covers of a book are hinged to the outer edges of the parallel cross-piecesD andD in such amanher, that they can be readily adjusted to project in vertical planes to clasp a closed book, and also turned down to extend in horizontal planes to support an open book. To each 5 hinged wing is pivoted, on the outside and central portion thereof,a gravitating latch II that has a shoulder J extending across one side at its lower end and adapted to engage the inner edge of the board B as required to retain the wing ina vertical position. On the inner edge and lower portion of the latches are shoulders K adapted to engage the outer edges of the cross pieces D and D when the wings are in a horizontal plane, as shown by the position of one of the wings and latches in Fig. 3. A simple portable device is thus provided that can be readily adjusted as required to support an open book or to retain a book closed and supported in a convenient position for opening and using the book without handling it. In placing a book upon the support the back of the book is extended between the two parallel oross pieces D and D and the hinged wings and then retained there, 7 5 open or closed as may be desired.

I claim as my invention- An improved portable book holder, comprising a stand having a flat top and openings in the end portions of the top to admit 8c latches, wings hinged in parallel position across the central portion of the fiat top, a latch pivoted to the under side and central portion of each wing and provided with a shoulder at the side of its bottom or free end adapted to engage the edge of an opening in the fixed top, and a shoulder at its bottom and inner edge also adapted to engage a portion of the fixed top, in the manner set forth for the purposes stated.

V O. S. BYRKIT. Witnesses:

A. L. CARPER, D. W. JOHNSON.