PAGE TURNING ARRANGEMENT The present invention generally relates to an arrangement for controllably turning pages in a book and, more particularly, to a compact, portable and quiet unit for reliably turning pages in a hands-free manner.

Many devices have been proposed in the art for turning the pages or leaves of a book, pamphlet, sheet music, magazine, newspaper and the like. Such devices are useful by musicians who need both hands to play their instruments, by persons permanently or temporarily suffering from a handicap affecting their arms, and by non-handicapped persons who simply wish, for work or leisure purposes, to periodically turn pages in order to read, consult or, in general, use them.

Such devices have used mechanical transmissions, including rotary cams, rotating cylinders, mobile skids, articulated arms, clamps and like linkages. Such devices have also included pivoted suction conduits for engaging and lifting pages by suction. However, as advantageous as these known devices have been, they are of complicated construction, noisy in operation, expensive to manufacture, difficult to maintain and irregular in operation.

Accordingly, one object of this invention is to provide a page turning arrangement which is efficient, regular and quiet in operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a page turning arrangement that requires little maintenance and is inexpensive in manufacture.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a reliable, portable, page turning arrangement.

In keeping with these objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter, one feature of this invention resides, briefly stated, in an arrangement for turning pages of a book, including a support for holding the book open. As used herein, the term"book"is intended to include a collection of pages, whether bound or unbound, whether blank, printed or manuscript, and incorporated as a booklet, pamphlet, sheet music, newspaper, magazine and like collection.

The arrangement includes a suction source, preferably a vacuum pump, including a nozzle, for generating a suction force at the nozzle in an energized state of the pump, and for discontinuing the suction force at the nozzle in a deenergized state of the pump. The arrangement further includes a drive, preferably including a reversible motor, for moving the nozzle between a pick-up position and a release position. The drive and the source are under the control of a controller, preferably a microprocessor.

In the pick-up position, the nozzle is positioned by the drive in an overlying relationship with an outer peripheral margin of the page and within a boundary of the page.

Preferably, the outer margin is a corner of the page. The source is energized, and the nozzle engages a page to be turned by suction. After an adjustable time delay, the drive jointly moves the nozzle and the page in one circumferential direction about a turning axis along a turning path to the release position.

In the release position, the drive is halted, and the source is deenergized to release the page from the nozzle. After another adjustable time delay, the drive returns the nozzle in an opposite circumferential direction about the turning axis along a return path to the pick-up position. During the return movement, the nozzle partially bends the page at the outer margin and pushes the page toward the support.

An actuator is operatively connected to the drive and the source for initiating turning of the page. Preferably, the actuator is in wireless communication with the controller.

The actuator includes a reader-operated switch, preferably actuated by the reader's foot, to initiate operation.

The drive and the source are contained in a housing in which a rechargeable battery pack is contained to constitute a self-contained unit to which the book support is connected. The unit is mountable on a generally planar support surface, or on a music stand.

A corner piece, preferably constituted of a non-porous plastic film, is adhered by a pressure-sensitive adhesive to the page corner. The corner piece helps insure that only one page at a time is attracted to the nozzle in the pick-up position, and that the released page is affirmatively bent and pushed toward the support in the release position.

It is preferred that the turning axis be aligned lengthwise with the spine or turning axis of the book. A visual indicator on the support helps insure the proper placement of the book thereon. The positioning of the nozzle at the page corner simulates the real-life page-turning action by a reader. In order to insure that the released page does not return with the nozzle, a pair of fibrous elements is mounted on the support and have fibers that extend along the turning path and opposite to the return path. These fibers frictionally engage side edges of the page and resist its return.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an arrangement for turning pages of a book according to this invention in one condition of use; FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1, and depicting a page-turning motion in phantom lines ; FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a self-contained unit of the arrangement of FIG.

1 ; FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1; FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4 ; FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 4; FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 4; FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 4; FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the arrangement of FIG. 1 in another condition of use; FIG. 10 is a view analogous to FIG. 7, but of a modified nozzle prior to engagement with a page; and FIG. 11 is a view analogous to FIG. 10, but of the modified nozzle after engagement with the page.

Reference numeral 10 in FIG. 1 generally depicts an arrangement for turning pages of a book 12 according to this invention. Arrangement 10 includes an actuator 14 for initiating the turning of a page, and a portable unit 16 on which the book 12 is supported. As used herein, the term"book"includes a collection of pages, either bound or unbound, either blank, printed or manuscript, and collected in a book, pamphlet, newspaper, magazine, sheet music, and like collection.

The portable unit 16 includes a support 18 for supporting the book 12 in an open condition. The support 18 includes a planar backrest 20 and a planar base 22 perpendicular to the backrest. The outer sheets of the book or covers 24 (see FIG. 2) rest on the backrest. The bottom edges 26 of the covers 24 and of the pages of the book are supported by the base 22. The support 18 is tilted relative to a generally planar, horizontal support surface 28 so that the book 12 is held in a rearwardly inclined orientation. As described below, a pair of fibrous elements 30,31 is mounted on the base 22 so that the bottom book edges 26 rest directly on the elements 30,31.

The support 16 is preferably constituted of a metallic material. A pair of magnets 32 are positioned on the covers 24 to hold the latter securely to the metallic backrest. Fasteners, other than magnets, could be used.

As shown in FIG. 2, the backrest 20 has a longitudinal channel 34 for receiving a longitudinal spine 36 of the book. The channel 34 serves as a visual indicator and as a mechanical guide for properly positioning the book on the support. Other indicators could include, for example, an arrow. Reference numeral 38 identifies the turning axis about which a selected page 40 is to be turned from its right-side position to its left-side position on the book.

A housing 42 is connected to and below the support to form the portable unit 16.

As best seen in FIG. 3, a linage 42 is connected behind the backrest 20 to support the unit in the inclined orientation. The linkage 42 includes a bracket 44 connected to the backrest. A first link 46 is pivotably connected to an upper pivot on the bracket. A second link 48 is pivotably connected to a lower pivot on the bracket. Link 48 has a slot in which a post 50 is slidably received. A leg link 52 is pivoted outwardly until it forms an extension of the link 46 at which time, the post 50 is at one end of the slot and is held there by friction, thereby locking the leg link in place. The leg link can be pushed and pivoted back to an initial position directly behind the backrest in an application where the leg support is not needed. For example, as shown in FIG.

9, the portable unit 16 with its folded-up leg is mounted on a piano stand of a piano 54.

As shown in FIG. 4, a suction source, including a vacuum pump 56 is mounted within the housing 42 and is encased in a foam block 58 for absorbing mechanical shock and for damping vibrations and noise. A drive, including a reversible motor 60, is also mounted within the housing 42 and is encased in another foam block 62, again for shock absorption and noise reduction. The motor 60 has a drive shaft 64 aligned with the turning axis 38 of the book. A controller 66, including a microprocessor, is electrically connected to the pump 56 and the motor 60 to control their operation, as described below. The controller 66 includes a radio frequency antenna 68 (see FIG. 3) connected to the controller 66 and in wireless, radio frequency communication with the actuator 14.

An eccentric cam 70 is fixedly mounted on the shaft 64 and rides on the armatures 72,74 of two microswitches 76,78 which are situated at opposite sides of the shaft. A circular disc 82 is also fixedly mounted on the shaft 64 and has an arm 80 mounted thereon for joint movement therewith. A drive post 84 (see FIG. 5) is fixed to the disc 82 and helps push the arm 80 because, in the preferred embodiment, the arm 80 is a flexible, hollow tubing. An inner end 86 of the arm 80 is connected by additional flexible tubing 88 to the pump 56. An outer end 92 of the arm is connected to a nozzle 90 having a flexible suction cup 94. A pair of cutouts 96, 98 is formed in the base 22 to permit movement of the nozzle, as described below.

In use, a reader initiates the turning of page 40, typically by stepping on a manual switch 100 on the actuator 14. Of course, the reader could also depress the switch 100 by hand.

This action causes a radio frequency command signal to be sent to the controller 66 via the antenna 68. Other wireless signals such as infrared or optical signals could also be used.

Although not preferred, a hardwired connection could be made between the actuator and the controller.

Upon receipt of the command signal, the controller energizes the pump 56 which begins to draw a vacuum through the tubing 88 and the arm 80 and generate a suction force at the cup 94. In the preferred embodiment, the suction force amounts to about 5 inches of mercury after about 3 seconds. A bleed hole 102 (see FIG. 7) insures that the suction force will not exceed that amount.

Initially, the nozzle is in a pick-up position depicted in FIG. 1. The length of the arm 80 is such that the nozzle 90 is received in slot 96, overlies an outer peripheral margin 104 of the page, and is located within the boundary of the page. More particularly, the outer margin 104 is the lower, right corner of the page 40. The cup 94 contacts the corner, and the suction force ensures a tight engagement between the cup and the corner as depicted in solid lines in FIG. 7. At this time, the cam 80 depresses the armature 72 of the switch 76 so that the controller knows that the nozzle is in the pick-up position.

Once a predetermined suction force has been generated, the motor is energized to drive the page 40, the nozzle 90 and the arm 80 from the pick-up position in one circumferential direction about the turning axis 38 along a turning path (see FIG. 2) to a release position. The flexibility of the arm 80 insures that the reader will not be injured should the reader accidentally place part of his or her body in the turning path. Energization of the motor proceeds after an adjustable time delay customized to the reader's preference and to the paper thickness of the page. Preferably, the movement along the turning path takes about 1-11/2 seconds.

Upon reaching the release position, and traveling through an obtuse angle less than 180°, the cam 70 activates the armature 74 of the switch 78, thereby advising the controller to deenergize the pump and release the page. The nozzle 90 has entered the slot 98. The motor is halted. The bleed hole 102 insures that the suction force is dissipated.

Thereupon, after another customized adjustable time delay, the motor is energized to return the nozzle and the arm in an opposite circumferential direction, again for about 1-11/2 seconds, about the turning axis 38. The drive post 84 helps drive the arm 80 back to the pick-up position. The released page 40 does not participate in this return movement. Indeed, as shown in FIG. 8, the nozzle, which lies underneath the corner, pushes past the corner and at least partially bends the page at the corner. This bending movement serves to push the released page back towards the backrest.

An accessible rotary knob 106 is turned to adjust each time delay. Once the nozzle has reentered the slot 96, and been repositioned on the next page corner, the cam 70 activates the armature 72 and resets the controller to await the next command signal from the actuator.

The fabric element 30 has a nap whose fibers lie in one direction away from the backrest. The fabric element 31 has a nap whose fibers lie in an opposite direction towards the backrest. The orientation of the fibers facilitates movement of the page along the turning path, but frictionally resists movement of the page along the return path.

Preferably, a corner piece 108 have a pressure-sensitive adhesive coating is adhered over the page corner 104. The corner piece is constituted of a non-porous, plastic film and has a triangular shape. The corner piece serves to resist the suction force from passing through the page 40 and causing one or more of the underlying pages to also be gripped by the nozzle in the pick-up position.

The corner piece also has an inclined edge 110 about which the corner 104 is bent during the return movement of the nozzle. This aids in the urging of the page 40 toward the backrest on the left side of the book.

A battery pack 112 is also contained in the housing 42 to power the electrical components. A recharger 114 is used to recharge the pack. A recharge switch 116 can be switched on to enable the battery pack to be recharged. A main power switch 118 can be switched on to power the controller, the pump and the motor.

FIGS. 10-11 illustrate a modified nozzle 120 which is preferred over the nozzle 90 described above. Nozzle 120 has a flexible cup 122 mounted for joint movement on a piston 124 which is received in a cylinder 126. The piston 124 has a head 128. A spring 130 is captured between the cylinder and the head. The head 128 divides the interior of the cylinder into a first chamber 132 in which the spring is contained, and a second chamber 134 bounded between the head and an end cap 136. A bleed hole 138 extends through the first chamber 132.

In the pick-up position of FIG. 7, the nozzle 90 is positioned relative to the page corner 104 so that the cup 94 touches the corner piece 108. By contrast, in the pick-up position of FIG. 10, the nozzle 120 is positioned at a distance on the order of 1/8 inch away from the corner piece 108. When the suction force is initially drawn within first chamber 132, the head 128 and the cup 122 are abruptly moved in a sudden stroke toward the corner piece, and concurrently the spring 130 is compressed. This stroke provides an aggressive attack on the page, after which the page is held by the suction force (FIG. 11). The bleed hole 138 insures that the suction force will not exceed a maximum value. Thereafter, in the release position, when the suction force is discontinued, the spring will return the head and the cup to their original positions.

Another improvement is the provision of a vacuum switch in the tubing 88. Once the pressure in the tubing 88 reaches a predetermined value, the vacuum switch advises the controller to start the motor.

As described, the nozzle 90 or 120 enters and exits the slots 96,98 during the page turning operation. The radial distance from the slots to the turning axis 38 is fixed, thereby making the arrangement useful for a book having pages of a certain size. If different sized pages are to be used with the same arrangement, this invention proposes the formation of a plurality of slots at different radial distances from the turning axis. A corresponding set of arms 80 of different lengths can be matched to the different slots.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.