US977454A - Newspaper-holder. - Google Patents

Description

0,1". KOBGKE. NEWSPAPER HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5, 1910.

977,454. Patented Dec. 6, 1910.

anuenfoz UTED STATES CHARLES FRED. KOECKE, 0F NEWARK, OHIO.

NEWSPAPER-HOLDER.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved news-paper and magazine holder of that type which supports the page being read, in fiat or spread-out condition and may be readily held in one hand.

I One of the disadvantages common to most of such devices now in use is that the paper clamping means is usually either adapted toclamp a comparatively thin news-paper or magazine, and i not readily adaptable for use in clamping a thick newspaper or magazinc, and vice versa.

It is, therefore, one aim of the present invention to provide, in a device of this class, a paper clamping means which will be equally useful in clamping both thick and thin news-papers and magazines and which will not mutilate the same.

Another disadvantage to be found in nearly all such devices is that the paper and clamping means is complicated in its structure and embodies clamping screws or similar elements which cannot be readily manipulated either to clamp or to release a news-paper or magazine, and it is, therefore, a further aim of the invention to not only simplify the structure of the clamping devices themselves, but also to render them readily operable for the purpose stated.

In the accompanying drawings,-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a news-paper holder constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view therethrough taken on a plane from front to rear.

The device of the present invention embodies a staff 5 which at one end is formed with a rounded hand grip 6 and in its forward face is formed with a groove 7 extending from its upper end to a point adjacent the upper end of the hand grip portion 6. The paper clamping member of the device is embodied in a resilient rod, preferably of heavy resilient wire, indicated by the numeral. 8, and this rod is pivoted at its lower end, as at 9, in the lower end of the groove and may be swung so as to lie wholly within the groove, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings, or may be swung out from the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 5, 1910.

Patented Dec. 6, 1910.

Serial No. 559,476.

groove, as shown in dash lines in the said figure. In the former instance, the rod will be in paper clamping position, whereas in the latter instance, a news-paper or magazine initially clamped thereby will be re leased. As stated, this rod 8 is resilient and between its pivoted end and the free extremity, it is bowed or flexed so that when swung to position within the groove, it will bear at its intermediate portion, yieldably against the bottom wall 10 of the groove in the staif. Adjacent its free or upper end, however, the rod is slightly bowed forwardly, as at 11. When the rod is swung to lie within the groove 7, pressure must be exerted against the upper end of the rod tending to straighten the rod against its tendency to flex or bend at its intermediate portion, and owing to this fact, the said intermediate portion of the rod will bear firmly and yet not rigidly against the bottom wall of the said groove whereby to firmly bind the edge of a paper or magazine in the groove.

Owing to the fact that due to the resiliency of the rod, it has a tendency to spring out from the groove, it is expedient that means be provided for preventing such movement of the rod when the same is in paper clamping use. This means, in the present invention, is embodied in a cyllndrical cap 12 which is fitted upon a cylindrical reduced portion 13 at the upper end of the staff 5 and is held for rotation thereabout by means of a securing screw or the like 14-. It will be observed that the groove 7, at its upper end, extends into this reduced portion 18 and also that the upper end of the rod 8 projects into this portion of the groove when the rod is in position in the groove as an entirety, and it will further be observed that the cap 12 is formed with a notch 15 adapted to come into registration with the said upper end of the groove when the cap is rotated whereby to release the rod, further rotation of the cap so that its notch will be out of registration with the said upper end of the groove, when the rod is in the groove, serving to confine the said end of the rod in the said portion of the groove and thereby restrain the entire rod from outward movement. In order that the cap may be conveniently rotated, it is provided with a bail or loop 16 which may be grasped between the fingers for the purpose of rotating the cap and may also be used as a means for supporting the device from a nail or hook when not in use.

Means is, of course, provided for supporting the news-paper or magazine in flat, spread-out condition and this means is embodied in a wire frame which preferably projects to the right of the staff, although it may project to the left, and this frame is made up, preferably, of two strands of wire, one of which strands is bent to open-sided rectangular form so as to afford top and bottom portions 17 and 18, respectively, and a vertical side portion 19 connecting the said top and bottom portions. The extremities of the said top and bottom portions 17 and 18 are driven into the staff 5 adjacent the upper ends thereof, respectively so that this portion of the frame will be supported to extend to the right from the said staff. The other portion of the frame is similarly formed, but is considerably smaller, and its top and bottom portions 20 are non-parallel. The connecting portion of the strand of wire from which this latter portion of the frame is made up, is secured to the side portion 19 of the first described frame, by a length of coiled wire 21 embracing the two said side sections.

YVhat is claimed is:

In a device ofthe class described, a staff,

the said staff having a reduced cylindrical portion at its upper end, a frame supported by the staff, the said staff being formed with a groove extending lengthwise thereof, a resilientrod pivoted at its lower end in the lower end of the groove, and adapted to be swung to lie within the groove and be held therein. the said rod being bowed whereby to adapt its intermediate portion to bear against the wall of the groove, a cylindrical cap fitted rotatably upon the reduced portion of the staff, a securing element fastened through the upper end of the cap and into the upper end of the staff and holding the ap for rotation upon the said portion of the statt, the cap constituting a means for retaining the rod in the groove and being formed with a notch adapted to register with the groove to permit of swinging of the rod, and a bail carried by the cap, the said bail constituting a means whereby the cap may be rotated and a means whereby the de-,

vice may be suspended.

In testimony that I clalm the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signa- 'ture in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES FRED. KOEOKE. I Vitnesses A. N. ANDERsoN, WM. R. SOHAU.

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