Patent ID: 6151819
Filing Date: 2000-11-28
Classification: B42D

Abstract:
A book supporting system comprising, in combination:a base with a planar rectangular configuration;a book support including a rear plate with a planar rectangular configuration, a pair of downwardly extending stanchions coupled to a bottom edge of the rear plate for mounting on the base, a pair of side faces coupled to side edges of the rear plate and extending forwardly therefrom, a pair of vertically oriented cut outs formed in the rear plate with a plurality of laterally extending recesses, a rod coupled within each of the cut outs in coplanar relationship therewith, a supporting disk having a central aperture for slidably receiving one of the rods and a pair of diametrically opposed grooves for being selectively positioned level with one of the laterally extending recesses, a pair of rear braces each having a top end coupled to the rear plate and extending downwardly therefrom and terminating with a pair of planar horizontally oriented feet, a pair of inverted L-shaped pivot couples mounted on each of the side faces, and a pair of wings each including a hollow inboard planar member having an inboard edge with a pair of tubes pivotally coupled to the L-shaped pivot couples of one of the side faces of the book support, an outboard planar member slidably positioned within the inboard planar member and having a planar lip extending from a bottom edge thereof;a lamp assembly including an adjustable arm mounted to a casing on the rear plate of the book support and a lamp mounted to the adjustable arm for illuminating purposes;a pair of page lifters each including a housing mounted to the bottom edge of one of the inboard planar members of the book support and having a slot on a top face thereof, a belt mounted within the housing between a pulley and a motor, an arm coupled to the belt and extending upwardly through the slot for sliding therein, and a gripping member mounted to an in-turned end of the arm, wherein the gripping member is moved within the slot upon actuation;a swivel support tab having an inboard end hingably coupled to the bottom edge of the outboard planar member of each of the wings;a pair of ruler assemblies each including a belt mounted along an outboard edge of one of the outboard planar members of the book support and connected between a motor and a pulley, an inboard ruler strip having an inboard end hingably coupled to a tab which is mounted on the belt of the ruler, an outboard ruler strip having an inboard end slidably mounted to an outboard end of the inboard ruler strip, wherein the ruler strips of each ruler assembly are adapted to move downwardly an incremental distance upon the actuation thereof; anda controller connected to the page lifters and the ruler assemblies via an elongated cord for selectively actuating the same.