US550289A - Albert l - Google Patents

Description

'(No Model.)

A, L. PLATT.

- BooK` HOLDER.

No. 550,289. Patented Nov. 26,' 1895.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT L. PLATT, OF CLINTON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO FRANK O. DAVIDSON, GEORGE E. OXVEN, AND JAMES H. CONKLIN, OF SAME PLAOE.

BOCK-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 550,289, dated November 26, 1895.

Application filed April 6, 1895. Serial No. 544,743. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT L. PLATT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Clinton, in the county of De Witt and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Book-Holders; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference 'being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which- 4 Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved book-holder, with a book open and in position for reading. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the holder, With the book removed. Fig. 3 is a side view of the holder, showing the manner of fastening it (adjustably and removably) to the desk. Fig. 4 is a plan of the holder and its pivoted leaf-retainers or springclamps. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view through the middle of the holder block or bearing proper; and Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the same on line .fr ac, showing more clearly the concave recess for the back of the book.

Like letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

My invention relates to book-holding attachments to desks, chairs, invalids7 couches, &c. of that type which admit of the easy and instantaneous adjustment of the book to the most desirable position for reading; and it consists in the improved construction and combination of parts of a book-holder of that class, as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

On the accompanying drawings, the referonce-letter A designates the top of a schooldesk, (or any other kind of a desk,) into which is inserted a bushing a to receive the nutted tenon b of a curved metal arm B, so that. this may be moved in its socket or bushing a into any desired position. The free end of arm B is enlarged and flattened to form a plate c, through the center of Which is insert-ed a nutted screw C, to which is pivotally attached the bail D, through one of the ears cl of which works the thumb-screw E. Be-

tween the ears d d of this .pivoted and adjustable bail D is hung the book-support proper or bearing-block, Which consists of the triangular base F and flat part F', having curved side recesses f f. At the point where the top of the base F merges into the flat part FI is a shoulder or offset g, and that part of the flat piece F' above the concave side recesses f f has a central convex recess or depression i' in its face with raised sides or edges fi i. Upon the top of -the raised part of the flat bottom piece or base F are fastened one or more leaf-springs G. While one may, in some cases, be sufficient, I prefer to use two-one on each side' as represented on the drawings, overlappingwith their free ends the side recesses f f, their points being turned slightly in an upward direction. At the same points, and preferably upon one of the same screws j, by which the spring-fingers G are fastened upon block F, are pivoted the two curved leaf-retainers H H-one on each side-Which are of the shape clearly shown-. e., comprising the flat piece or base h, arch h', and curved finger 712, reaching (when the pivoted leaf-retainers are in alignment with the stationary spring-fingers G G) to about the ends of and covering the latter.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, the manner of using this device, as well as the advantages involved in its use, will readily be understood. The book`(shown at I) is opened and placed with its convex back in the recess i', so that the back will be supported by the flat piece F, With the lower edge of the back and covers impinging upon the shoulder of offset g, which prevents it from slipping down. It is held firmly and securely in this position by means of the stationary spring-fingers G G, which overlap the book-covers on the inside, the object of the side recesses ff being to afford room for the fingers during the opera- ,tion of inserting the free ends of springs G between the covers and the adjacent leaves parallel to the sides of the covers. After Opening the book at the page where it is desired to read the leaf-retainers H H are turned from the horizontal position shown in dotted lines in'Fig. 4 into the Vertical position shown IOO in full line in the same figure, so as to overlap the leaves, as represented in Fig. 1, and retain them in their proper position.

XVhile this device or attachment may be applied advantageously to desks of diferent kinds, as Well as to chairs, pulpts, dac. it will be found particularly useful on school-desks for children7s and students7 use. The schooldesks in ordinary use are necessarily of limited size, giving insu fficient desk-room to the pupil. The top of the desk being horizontal, or nearly so, the book When lying flat upon ,it is at an improper angle with the line of vision. In using a book for reference while the pupil writes upon slate or paper the slate or paper is often crowded to an improper position upon the desk, so that the pupil often finds it necessary to hold open the book With one hand While he writes with the other. fith the book lying flat upon the desk the light strikes the page at an improper angle. By this device the pupil secures additional desk-room, the holder being placed above the desk, so that the hand may move freely beneath it. The book is placed at'such an angle and such a height that the page is ata propcr angle With the line of vision and the pupil is compelled to sit in a proper position while reading. The book is held secnrely open, leaving both hands of the pupil free for use in Writing. The book is not Worn or soiled by frequent handling, and the pupil finds it much more convenient and comfortable to refer to the page held above his paper than when lying flat beside it. The holder will hold a school book or paper of any size from a speller to a geography. It rests the body, it rests the eyes, and it rests the brain.

Having thus fully described my nvention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- The improved removable and ad j ustable book-holder or support herein shown and described, comprising the block orbearing F F', having longitudinal recess or depression l', concave side-recessesjf, and transverse shoulder g,and provided with one ormore station ary spring-fingers G and pivoted, arched, leaf-retainers I-I, arranged as shown; in combination With the adjustable bail D, thumb-screw E, and bent arm B; constructed a'nd combined to operate substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT L. PLATT. lVtnesses LoUIs N. RICHEY, L. DE Boron.

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