2. Technical Field The technical field to which the invention relates is that of mechanical supports or supporting devices.

3. Background Art The precise background art which would be useful for the understanding, searching and examination of the invention is unknown to the applicant.

4. Brief Description of Drawings Figures 1 through 4 comprise the drawings.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention mounted on the platform or slant-board and carrying stand assembly, showing the embodiment of the method of holding an open book in a range of positions relative to a reader. Figure 2 is a bottom plan, cross-sectional view of the invention showing the invention mounted on the face of the platform assembly with the page-restraining wheels or tabs mounted on a shaft projecting upward from the face of the invention. Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the invention, showing the face of the page-restraining wheels or tabs as well as the prongs projecting from the bottom of the invention to grip the inside front and rear covers of a book binding. Figure 4 is a right side elevational view of the invention mounted on the platform assembly in the preferred embodiment of the method of this invention in holding an open book, hands-free within a 180 degree range of positions from the horizontal, face-up, through the horizontal, face- down.

5. Detailed Disclosure and Best Mode for Carrvmg Out the Invention Referring to Fig. 1, there is illustrated an open book securing device 10 (the "invention"). The purpose of the invention is to provide a hands-free method, when used in connection with a platform 21 (Figs. 2,4) or a platform and stand assembly 50, of holding an open book within a range of comfortable eye-focus for persons sitting, inclined or lying down, face-up. The further purpose of the invention is to permit a page of a book

so secured to be readily turned, forward or backward, in a conventional manner with the fingers of the hand.

In order to accomplish these purposes, the invention 10 must be used in connection with methods and devices which are prior art, namely (i) a rotating platform or slant-board assembly 20 to which the invention is attached by hooks and which is attached to a horizontal arm, (ii) a horizontal arm 28 (Fig. 4) which may or may not be of a telescoping or sliding construction making the length of the arm adjustable and attached to a vertical column, (iii) a vertical column 30 which may or may not have a telescoping or sliding construction making the height of the horizontal arm adjustable and attached to a base, and (iv) a base 40 with or without rollers making the assembly moveable. When positioned in front of a reader, the platform assembly 20 to which the invention 10 is attached may be rotated up to 180 degrees around the horizontal arm 28, that is, from face up to face down. Fig. 4.

Referring to Figure 4, the platform or slant-board assembly will have a raised edge 22 at the bottom or lower edge of the platform from to which tabs 23 are affixed opposing the wheels or tabs 15 (Figs. 2,3) on the invention. See also Figs. 1 and 4. The lower tabs 23 restrain the lower edges of open pages of a book while the wheels or tabs 15 (Figs.

2,3) on the invention restrain the upper edges of the open page.

The invention itself 10 consists of a bar 11 on which two hooks 12, two prongs 13, two shaft-mounted wheel or tab arrangements 14,15,16 are mounted. The bar 11 has at least one flat side to slide along the face of the platform when in position. Hooks 12 are affixed at each end of the bar 11 with the open part of the hooks facing each other along the flat side of the bar. (Fig. 2) The bar 11 with hooks 12 attached is long enough to span the width of the platform or slant-board 21. In this position, the flat side of the bar 11 slides up and down along the face of the platform or slant-board 21 but the bar remains secured to the platform/board by the hooks 12 on the invention. The prongs 13 are mounted on the bar 11 approximately one-third of the distance from each end of the bar, but in any event within the span of the front and back covers of an open book. Each prong 13 extends downward and parallel to the flat side of the bar 11. Figs. 2,3,4.

Approximately the same distance from the end of the bar 11 as, but slightly offset from, the prongs 3, there is a shaft 14 installed perpendicular to the flat side on the bar 11.

A wheel or tab 15 is secured in place along the shaft 14 by opposing springs so that the distance from the platform face 21 and the wheel or tab 15 is approximately the thickness of a book. Figs. 2,4. The radius of the wheel or tab 15 is greater than the width of the bar through which the shaft 14 passes, permitting the pages to which the book is opened to be restrained behind the wheels on the invention when the bar is resting on the top edge of the open book. Figs. 3,4.

The invention 10 thus assembled is installed on the platform 21 of the stand assembly 50 described above with the hooks 12 on either end of the bar 11 sliding over the upper side edges of the platform 21. So installed, the invention permits an open book 29 to be placed on the platform below the invention with the prongs 13 of the invention sliding down over the inside of the front and back covers of the book 29 until the bar 11 touches the book, thus securing the open book 29 to the platform assembly 20. Fig. 4.

The pages to which the book 29 is opened are then restrained by placing the upper edge of each open page behind the corresponding wheel 15 on the invention 10 and the lower edge of each open page behind the corresponding rounded tab 22 fixed to the raised edge 23 on the bottom of the platform 21. Fig. 4.

Referring to Figure 4, the book is thereby held securely to the platform assembly 20 and the pages are thereby held open as the platform assembly 20 is rotated up to 180 degrees between the horizontal, face-up, through the horizontal, face-down. The pages of the book, regardless of the inclination of the platform onto which the invention is mounted through its 180 degree arc will remain open and may be turned sequentially in either direction by a conventional movement of the fingers of one hand. That is, the page to be turned is held at its edge and pushed toward the other side of the book. The force of the push causes the turning page to slip free of the restraining lower rounded tab 23 fixed to the raised edge 22 at the bottom of the platform 21 and the wheel 15 on the invention restraining the top of the turning page. The turning motion continues with the hand and is completed by pushing the upper and lower edges of the turned page behind the restraining

wheel 15 and tab 23 on the opposing side, after which the book will remain open, hands- free, at the new page setting.

The platform assembly 20 is hinged to the horizontal arm 21 and a hinged locking arm 24 mounted on a box channel 26 which is, in turn, secured to the horizontal arm by slides 27 installed on the inside of the box channel 26 and on the horizontal arm 28. Refer to Fig. 4. The channel box 26 with mounted slide components 27 is constructed to fit securely over the horizontal arm with its mounted slide components 28. This permits the weight of the platform assembly 20, together with the weight of a book mounted on the platform assembly 29, to slide freely, overcoming the torque of the off-center platform assembly and book. Refer to Figs. 1 and 4.

The invention, then, when used in connection with prior art in the form of a book supporting platform or slant-board for desk-top or table-top use, and, as a preferred method of use, with prior art in the form of a mobile and adjustable supporting floor standing assembly, permits each reader to achieve the most ergonomically desirable reading position which uniquely maximizes comfort in the neck, back and arms for that reader.