BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When reading a book, the reader often finds that his or her hands can become uncomfortably positioned and/or occupied, because one must not only hold the book open, but must also hold it in both a comfortable position, and at a comfortable distance and angle for the reader's eyes. The reader's hands and wrists can thus tire quickly from holding a book over an extended period of time and readers tend to constantly change their reading position, in order to rest their hands and wrists. This degree of motion may affect both reading speed and comprehension, and theiefore, the overall degree of enjoyment.

It is well documented that reader's eyes get tired easily if one does not hold a book in a good position, i.e., a position where the eye muscle does not have to constantly change its strength to adjust focus. Most reader's read a book at distances ranging from about 6 inches to 12 inches from the eye, particularly if the book is lying flat on a flat sur face, e.g. , a desk. Devices which aid in positioning a book for optimum reading distance, angle and comfort, are thus desirable inventions. Collectively, these devices are referred to herein as portable bookstands. To be most useful, such devices should be simple to operate, e.g., having a minimum of moving parts. In addition, such

devices should be constructed from sturdy materials, but they should be not be too expensive for everyday use. The present invention provides such a device. Previous attempts at such devices are discussed below.

INFORMATION DISCLOSURE

The following patents are believed to be related to the present invention as prior art, and as such, their disclosures are hereby incorporated herein by reference:

U.S. Patent No. 1 ,278,442 (Dahlberg) describes a bookstand or support comprising a base, a pnir of members mounted to slide horizontally thereon and to be normally held by friction against slidable movement, a book supporting member mounted on each of said slidable members and an equalizer interposed between said slidable members and operatively connected therewith and with said base.

U. S. Patent No. 1 ,797,889 (Wiberg) describes a bookstand comprising a base member, a book holder member hingedly mounted thereon, said base member having a slot therein extending toward and away from the hinged mounting of said holder member, a supporting member slidably mounted in said slot upon which said holder member may rest in various positions of adjustment, and resilient frictional means or holding said supporting member in adjusted position.

U.S. Patent No. 1 ,947,053 (Mason) describes a bookstand comprising a base board having upstanding flanged edges, a major and a minor book rest member pivotally connected together and to said upstanding flanged edges, said two book rest members service as a closure for the base and its flanged edges in their lowered position, a

bracket support hinged to the base and foldable therein, and the top edge of said support cut in V-form whereby same is adapted to support the book rest members in a pivotally raised position when said bracket support is raised to a vertical position.

U. S. Patent No. 2,255,632 (Stevens) describes a bookstand or support including a base formed of a length of stiff wire or the like bent to form a pair of supporting members, a guard for one end of said base formed between said support members at one end thereof, and a pair of inwardly projecting stops or fingers formed at the other terminal of each supporting member, and an inclined back rest slidable carried on said supporting members, said base and back rest being foldable for nesting one within the other when the device is not in use, said stops or fingers having engagement under tension with a side of the back rest when the said parts are nested.

U. S. Patent No. 2,834, 1 49 (Flahive et al.) discloses a bookstand comprising two pairs of parallel arms, the arms of each pair being in side by side relation and said pairs of arms normally extending horizontally in opposite directions parallel with a predetermined common plane, a support for said arms, fixed means on said support for pivotally attaching the corresponding ends of each pair of arms thereto for swinging movement of said arms in a direction normal to said common plane, each pair of arms being swingable independently of the other pair, bracket means on each pair of arms pivotally connecting the free ends thereof on axes parallel with and respectively equidistant from the pivot attachment of each of said arms to sid support, a book support plate on each of said bracket means and lying parallel with said common plane, means normally urging said pairs of arms toward said common plane, and fixed means on said support extending into the path of movement of

said plates toward said common plane.

U.S. Patent No. 3,007,278 (Million) discloses a four-piece, foldable metal frame bookstand comprising spaced wire side members, each side member including front and rear diagonal portions inclined in an upward and rearward direction and spaced from each other to provide pocket portions to receive reading matter, each side member further including a substantially horizontal base portion adapted to rest upon a supporting surface, generally vertical coupling strips receiving said base portions and disposed substantially rearwardly of said pocket portions, a wire back structure secured to said coupling structure and including an upper portion vertically adjustable in said coupling strips and adapted to be engaged by and support the leading matter disposed in pocket portions.

U.S. Patent No. 4,060,21 6 (Million) describes an adjustable bookstand including a pair of unitary side members each formed of a vertical back portion terminating in a support end and a base portion terminating in a deflector guide end included in a spaced upward and rearward direction relative to said back portion and a rigid elongated back structure having a pair of spaced aligned ends each defining a passageway which rotatably clamps the back portion, one in each end, such that the support ends are on one side of the back structure and the base portions are on the opposite side of the back structure with the position of the guide ends being adjustable relative to the back structure to firmly support reading material between the support ends and back structure at the top and each of the deflector guide ends at the bottom during usage and wherein the position of the base portion and deflector guide ends at the bottom during usage and wherein the position of the base portion and deflector guide ends can be laid substantially flat during

storage is disclosed.

U.S. Patent No. 4, 105, 1 82 (Jacobson) describes a collapsible and portable bookstand, formed from a single elongated blank of light weight material, such as cardboard, transversely creased to form a plurality of foldable panels which are adapted to lock into a plurality of positions each of which is adapted for a different purpose such as holding and supporting an opened book in a rearwardly inclined position for ease of viewing, for use as a cover or support, for use as a folder for notepad, a hand-held support for such items as a note or sketch pad, a storage bin for books or like articles, a bookrack, a pen-pencil and ruler holder, a lectern, a study carrel, a clipboard easel for typists, a music stand, a projection screen prop or a technical drawing board prop.

Thus, while a number of previous inventors have attempted to provide a reader with an easy to use, low cost bookstand, for various reasons, they have not been successful. The present invention overcomes many of the disadvantages associated with these prior art devices, providing a sturdy, low cost, easy to use bookstand, book holder or bookshelf, as detailed herein below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a portable bookstand that can hold a book open in a comfortable position for the reader while he/she is reading. The stand includes a shelf on the face thereof, which supports the bottom of the book. At each end of the shelf there is an adjustable hook that may be used to hold the pages of the open book, eliminating the necessity of the reader's hands holding the book open during the reading process. Positioned on the back of the bookstand is a foldable

support piece that can be infinitely adjusted to any desired support angle, allowing the reader to easily select the optimum angle for reading under any lighting conditions. The variability of the angle is created by utilizing a Velcro hook and loop type fastener, but other means for varying the angle could likewise he employed. Once adjusted to eliminate glar e and for comfortable use, the reader can have the book stay in the most comfortable position for his/her eyes during reading. The bookstand also includes on its upper surface, an openable bar which can open 1 80 degrees off the main body, to support a large book, magazine or newspaper. When not in use, the various parts of the bookstand may be simply folded together into a relatively flat package and put away in a bag or a briefcase.

In additional to the function of holding a book open during use, this bookstand also includes a display window which can hold one or several pictures, memorandum, reminder cards, working schedules, academic formula review cards, notes, message, or the like, making the stand further useful.

The bookstand of the present invention is very convenient for people to use, making their reading effortless, reducing eye strain, thereby increasing reading efficiency and enjoyment. Suitable places where this device would be used include the office, the library, in the home, e.g ., by students or other readers at the dining room table, a coffee table, or in other study areas where books or other documents may need to be read from time to time. When used for newspapers and/or magazine reading, the bookstand of the present invention can include either one "U" shaped bar or two extendible bars, located on the top of the main body which can be pulled out to support the extra height of the reading material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 illustrates in two plan views, the front and back of the bookshelf of the present invention.

Figure 2, in a series of six side views, illustrates some of the various reading position angles possible using the bookshelf of the present invention.

Figure 3, in three views, illustrates the general operation of the page hooks of the bookshelf of the present invention.

Figure 4 illustrates in cross-section, the main body of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the preferred main body is a two-piece plastic unit, the top cover being transparent or translucent, with the back portion being a colored plastic member. A slot is formed between the two pieces of plastic for inserting pictures, memos, etc.

Figure 5 illustrates the back of the two-piece plastic unit shown in

Figure 4. As illustrated in this Figure, a hole is preferably provided to allow the user to readily manipulate the materials retained in the slot.

Figure 6 illustrates in three views, the preferred locking mechanism used to hold in place the page hooks illustrated in Figure 3.

Figure 7 illustrates in two views, the use of the extension bar (flippable bar) which when in the up position is used to provide additional support for large books, newspapers, magazines, etc.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention is thus directed to a device that can hold a book open so that the reader does not need to use his or her hands to keep the book open when he or she is reading a book.

As illustrated in the two views provided in Figure 1 , the bookstand of the present invention 1 has a front surface 10 and a back surface 14. Foldably mounted near the bottom of the front surface 1 0 is a bookshelf 1 2. Mounted at each end of bookshelf 1 2 are arms 1 1 which are used to hold the pages of a book mounted on the shelf . Thus these arms are preferably made out of a lightweight but strong metal, and are sometimes referred to as page hooks. The back surface 1 4 of the bookstand includes the foldable support arm 1 6, which is hingedly attached near the top of the back surface, and the support angle locking means, which in the illustrated embodiment is a Velcro ' hook and loop strip combination 1 8/1 9, discussed in detail below.

As shown in the series of illustrations provided in Figure 2, the preferred support angle locking means comprises a strip of Velcro ' brand hook (or loop) material attached near the bottom of the back side of the bookshelf 1 4, with the other material (i.e., the loop or hook), attached to the back side of the foldable support arm 16. Variation in the attachment location of the hook and loop strips 1 8/1 9 provides the user with the ability to create various reading position angles, from nearly flat to nearly 90° .

Figure 3, in three views, illustrates the general operation of the page hooks 1 1 mounted to the bookshelf 1 2. The page hooks are mounted on a track mechanism (described below) such that they may be

moved horizontally about the foldable bookshelf 1 2.

Figure 4 illustrates in cross-section, the main body of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the preferred main body is a two-piece plastic unit, the top cover 1 0 being transparent or translucent, with the back portion 14 being a colored plastic member. A slot 1 3 is formed between the two pieces of plastic for inserting pictures, memos, etc.

Figure 5 illustrates the back portion 1 4 of the two-piece plastic unit shown in Figure 4. As illustrated in this Figure, a hole 1 5 is preferably provided to allow the user to readily manipulate the materials retained in the slot 1 3.

Figure 6 illustrates in three views, the preferred locking mechanism 20/21 used to hold in place the page hooks 1 1 as illustrated in Figure 3. As illustrated the page hooks are preferably mounted to a trolley 20, the bottom of which is provided with a hook member 22. Hook member 22 locks in place with the teeth 21 provided as a strip down the center of the bookshelf member 1 2. The mating of the hook member 21 and teeth 22, locks the trolley 20 in place, thereby securing the pages of the book as retained by page hooks 1 1 . The horizontal track of teeth 21 on the bookshelf 1 2 allows for variable positioning of the page hooks 1 1 , allowing the use of this device with books having various widths.

Figure 7 illustrates in two views, the use of the metal extension bar 23 ("flippable" bar) which when in the up position is used to provide additional support for large books, newspapers, magazines, etc.

The preferred construction component parts of this device should be strong, light weight plastic and/or metal components as discussed above. Other components (e.g. , wood, more metal, etc.) could be used as desired by the skilled artisan upon consideration of this disclosure, however, use of such other components may add unwanted weight to the device, reducing its portability. Fabrication of the device using the preferred types of materials described herein will keep the manufacturing costs low cost and the use of the device as simple as possible.

The present invention has been described in detail, including the preferred embodiments thereof. However, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon consideration of the present disclosure, may make modifications and/or improvements on this invention and still be within the scope and spirit of this invention as set forth in the following claims.