WO2007140541A1

WO2007140541A1 - Portable holder for books and study materials

Info

Publication number: WO2007140541A1
Application number: PCT/AU2007/000806
Authority: WO
Inventors: Martin Vrecko
Original assignee: Brandes, Breez
Priority date: 2006-06-09
Filing date: 2007-06-09
Publication date: 2007-12-13

Abstract

The present invention is a collpasible reading stand, which consists of a tripod, a shelf attached to the front legs thereof and a brace, which fastens the reading material onto the reading stand and holds the pages open. The main advantages of the present invention over the prior art are (1) light weight, (2) collapsible structure, and (3) a very effective method of holding the pages of the reading material open, which works with magazines, binders and books regardless of the binding method.

Description

PORTABLEHOLDERFORBOOKS AND STUDYMATERIALS

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to book supports or reading stands, specifically, to self-supporting apparatus, which holds a book, a magazine, a ring binder or other reading material in various positions, considerably above the surface on which it stands, with pages of the reading material open, so that the reader can sit or lie comfortably with his hands free.

Background Art

[2] Prolonged reading can be physically stressful, if the reader isn't in a comfortable position. The stress results mostly but not exclusively from bending one's neck and back, and keeping one's arms in a forced position to hold the book open at a suitable angle and distance from the eyes. Using a personal or a portable computer and a reading material at the same time can also lead to an unhealthy posture, unless both items can be effectively positioned next to each other.Some prior art is described in more details hereinafter.

[3] When examining prior art some frequent problems can be established: (1) the apparatus is too cumbersome, (2) the apparatus comprises a large back plate, to which the reading material is attached, (3) the apparatus occupies a considerable area of the surface on which it stands, (4) the apparatus works well only with certain types of reading material - most commonly does not support soft cover books, (5) the apparatus comprises a means of attaching the reading material thereon and a separate means of holding the pages thereof open, (6) the means of attaching the reading material on the reading stand does not adapt to the position of the cover, when the reader is at the beginning or at the end of the book (7) the means of holding the pages open covers the print, (8) the means of holding the pages open does not apply force evenly over the entire height of the reading material. Some prior art is described in more details hereinafter.

[4] The apparatus described in U.S. Pat. No. 5690310 (Brown) has got many large components, which make it impractical for transport and storage. The means of holding the book open affects only a small area near the bottom of the page. The apparatus described in U.S. Pat. No. 5016852 (Herendeen) has got less large components. The back plate is imitated by a system of links, but there is nothing to fasten a book thereon. The apparatus described in U.S. Pat. No. 4036465 (Kellner) has got holding pins to hold the book open, but they affect only the area near the bottom of the page. The apparatus includes a large back plate and other large components. The apparatus described in U.S. Pat. No. 5720465 (Peltzer et al) comprises a large rigid panel and several other large components for holding the book open. The vertical panels do not adapt to the position of the cover, when the reader is at the beginning or the end of the book. The apparatus described in U.S. Pat. No. 1790487 (Ruhnau) introduces a central standard, which holds the book in its upright position covering no print. However the standard is held in its place only by a foot piece attached to its lower end, which means its upper end can bend substantially forwardly. Together with the fingers, which keep the pages open, whereby engaging only the lower portion of the page, the standard does not provide enough force to keep a soft cover book open. The apparatus described in U.S. Pat. No. 2134810 (Boyle) introduces a T frame by adding a horizontal bar to the vertical standard. However, the frame is again held in place by a means attached to the lower end of the frame only and the frame must be aided by the lips of the shelf. It is not clear, how the pages can be turned. The apparatus described in DE Pat. No. 29800280 Ul (Mueller GmbH) comprises many large components and the book is not wide open. Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[5] When examining prior art some frequent problems can be established: (1) the apparatus is too cumbersome, (2) the apparatus comprises a large back plate, to which the reading material is attached, (3) the apparatus occupies a considerable area of the surface on which it stands, (4) the apparatus works well only with certain types of reading material - most commonly does not support soft cover books, (5) the apparatus comprises a means of attaching the reading material thereon and a separate means of holding the pages thereof open, (6) the means of holding the pages open covers the print, (7) the means of attaching the reading material on the apparatus and/or the means of holding the pages open is not applied to the entire height of the reading material.

Technical Solution

[6] Based on the deficiencies of the prior art described hereinbefore and the needs arising from the modern life, the objects of the present invention are: (1) a stabile self- supporting structure that can hold reading material considerably above the surface on which it stands and can adapt to an uneven surface, (2) a stabile self-supporting structure with a very small footprint to leave the surface underneath thereof free for other items, (3) a collapsible self-supporting structure that takes little space when in a compact configuration, (4) a reading stand without a back plate supporting the reading material, (5) a reading stand combining an efficient means of attaching the reading material to the apparatus and an efficient means of holding the pages open into one member, (6) a means of attaching the reading material to the apparatus and holding the pages open, which can effectively accommodate magazines, ring binders, and books regardless of the binding technique used, (7) a means of attaching the reading material to the apparatus and holding the pages open, which does not obstruct the view of the print.

[7] I have outlined the objectives of the present invention in order that the detailed de- scription thereof hereinafter may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.

Description of Drawings

[8] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present book holder

[9] FIG. 2 is a front view showing a first embodiment of the brace

[10] FIG. 3 is a front view showing a second embodiment of the brace

Best Mode

[11] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[12] Referring to the drawings, particularly FIG. 1, the present book holder is illustrated comprising three tubular telescopic legs, a left front leg 1, a right front leg 2 and a rear leg 3. Each said telescopic leg comprises a means for adjusting the length thereof. Any effective existing means as are known to those versed in the art can be applied. The said telescopic legs each have a rubber foot 4 at the bottom end. The top end of each of the said telescopic leg is attached to the head member 5 by a pivot joint. The said front telescopic legs further comprise a shelf supporting hook 6 projecting forwardly. [13] The said head member further comprises a groove 7 positioned on the top thereof and perpendicular to the front plane of the said head member. The said groove receives therein a slider 8. The said slider can move along the said groove. The slider comprises a tube 9 attached thereto by a pivot joint. The said tube receives the upper end of the brace 10. The cap 11 is attached to the upper end of the said brace to prevent the said brace from moving downwardly out of the said tube. The said brace is suspended from the said tube and is placed in front of a book, a magazine, a binder or other reading material. [14] The present book holder further comprises a shelf consisting of a vertical shelf member 12 and a horizontal shelf member 13 interconnected by an elongated hinge 14. The said vertical shelf member can be attached to the said front telescopic legs by means of the said hooks and the corresponding openings 15 in the said vertical shelf member. The horizontal shelf member comprises a plurality of centrally located cylindrical openings 16. According to a first version of the said brace depicted in FIG. 2 the said cylindrical openings are positioned in two parallel rows extending forwardly from the said hinge. According to a second version of the said brace depicted in FIG. 3 the said cylindrical openings are positioned in one row extending forwardly from the said hinge.

[15] Referring to the drawings, particularly FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the brace comprises a central spine stick 17 and two or more horizontal rungs 18 attached to the said central spine stick, which hold the pages of the reading material open. FIG. 2 depicts a first version of the brace according to which the lower rung is considerably longer and both ends thereof are bent down parallel to the said central spine stick. FIG. 3 depicts a second version of the brace according to which the central spine stick is longer and all said horizontal rungs are identical. The lower end of the said brace engages the adequate cylindrical opening(s) 16.

[16] It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are illustrative of application of the principles of the invention. Other arrangements may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims[1] I claim:

1. An adjustable collapsible reading stand including:

(a) a collapsible tripod comprising three telescopic legs 1, 2, 3 and a head piece 5

(b) a detachable foldable shelf having a vertical 12 and a horizontal 13 member

(c) a page holding brace 10 protruding perpendicularly to the upper plane of the said horizontal member 13 of the said foldable shelf

2. A reading stand of claim 1, wherein the said telescopic legs 1, 2, 3 have a lower end and an upper end, the lower end including a rubber foot 4 attached thereto, the upper end being attached to the said head piece 5 by a pivot joint. The two said front telescopic legs 1, 2 further including a shelf supporting hook 6 protruding forwardly and perpendicularly thereto.

3. A reading stand of claim 1, wherein the said vertical shelf member 12 comprises two distal apertures 15 for attaching the shelf to the said tripod by means of said supporting hooks 6 attached to the said front telescopic legs 1, 2.

4. A reading stand of claim 1, wherein the said vertical shelf member 12 communicates with the said horizontal shelf member 13 by means of a hinge 14.

5. A reading stand of claim 1, wherein the said horizontal shelf member 13 comprises a plurality of centrally located holes 16 to receive the lower end of the said brace 10.

6. A reading stand of claim 1, wherein the reading material is placed between the said vertical shelf member 12 and the said brace 10.

7. A reading stand of claim 1, wherein the reading material is kept in an upright position primarily by the said brace 10 pressing the lower end of the reading material against the said vertical shelf member 12.

8. A reading stand of claim 1, wherein the said brace 10 comprises a vertical rod 17, which holds the reading material on the reading stand and a plurality of horizontal rungs 18, which hold the pages thereof open.

9. A reading stand of claim 1, wherein the said brace 10 is attached to the said head piece 5 of the said tripod by a means of a slider 8 in a way that allows a vertical and a forwardly motion of the brace 10, the said slider 8 being attached to the head piece 5 by a means of a forwardly projecting groove 7 on the said head piece 5, the said slider 8 being able to assume a plurality of positions within the said groove 7, the said slider 8 retracting the said brace 10 to keep the pages of the reading material wide open.