Abstract:
A device that aids in the holding of a book or binder is fully adjustable to the hand size of the holder by parting and remating of hook and loop fastening strips attached to U-shaped clips, the U-shaped clips being placed at the top and bottom of the outside surface of the backbone or spine of a book or binder.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation-in-part of patent application Ser. No. 10/022,657 filed Dec. 17, 2001. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a holding device for a book, binder, notebook, or the like, and more particularly relates to a holding device for holding a book, binder, or the like that can be comfortably held in the hand for an extended period of time. 
     Devices are known for assisting in the holding of a book in making a sales presentation, reading from a book, or singing from a song book, wherein a platform, podium or other resting place for the book is not practical or desirable. 
     Balancing an open loose-leaf binder, book, or other read-from devices in one hand while turning pages to search for particular information or documents contained in the book or binder or the like, can be difficult and may be particularly frustrating. Balancing, rather than firmly holding a book or the like for extended periods of time can also be tiring and conducive to risk fatigue. Particularly, when a person is singing in a choir or other choral group, the singer holds the music book or hymnal between the fingers of one hand and after an extended period of time it is common for cramps to develop in the hands and therefore the holding of the song book or hymnal becomes very tedious to hold. U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,456 to Laubacher teaches a book holding device comprised of the fabrication of several materials, such as an elastic band loop, covered with terry cloth attached to a loop type fastener. This loop type fastener is mateable with a hook type fastener that has been previously attached to the book or binder by means of a pressure sensitive adhesive. The elastic band loop is adapted to receive a hand for holding the book. However, one problem encountered with books and binders is that these books and binders, in many instances, contain vinyl or polyethylene sheeting which constantly exudes a resin which by its very nature affects adhesive attachment in a negative way. In this case the integrity of the adhesive is compromised by the exuded resins thereby causing a separation or release where a tight bond is needed. Moreover, the pressure of the finger and thumb tip on the surface of the binder creates a reverse pressure on the back of the hand to the added pressure causing the adhesive to pull away from the vinyl, polyethylene sheeting, or other types of surfaces. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a holding device for a book or binder that can be held in an individual&#39;s hand for long periods of time without causing cramps or like in the hands. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a holding device for books, binders, notebooks, or the like, which is easy to assembly onto the spine of a book which is adapted to receive the hand of a user. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide a holding device for a book or binder which provides a comfortable way for the holder of the book or binder to hold the book or binder in either hand. 
     It is even another object of the present invention to provide a holding device for a book or binder which utilizes hook and loop type fasteners which provide for a removably attachable book holding device. 
     It is even a further object of the present invention to provide a book holding device which includes hook and loop type fasteners thereby providing a holding device capable for use with books or binders of various sizes. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide a device for retaining non-perforated books, leaves, or pamphlets of various dimensions and thickness in a book or binder not having rings or other mechanisms to retain such books, leaves, or pamphlets, by the use of self-adjusting elastic cords or bands in a binder or folder. 
     It is even another object of the present invention to provide a device for holding a book or binder which is relatively inexpensive and easily changed from one book to another. 
     More particularly, the present invention provides a holding device for a book which includes first and second U-shaped clips having a back leg and a spaced front leg. Each of the U-shaped clips is provided with a strip of flexible material having one end attached to a front leg of the U-shaped clip and an opposed end with an adjustable fastening device thereon, the adjustable fastening devices on the opposed ends being mateable. Moreover, the front leg of the U-shaped clip may be modified to include an outwardly extending lip with at least one finger thereon to receive a wire or rubber band or the like thereon which is attachable to the top and bottom spine of a binder or folder which allows the receipt of a book, pamphlet, or the like, the book or pamphlet being received between the spine of the binder and the wire, rubber band, or the like. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A better understanding of the invention will be had upon reference to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals refer to like parts in the various views and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the embodiment of FIG. 1 being attached to a book or binder; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 shown in a use condition; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another preferred U-or J-shaped clip of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the clip of FIG. 4 showing an attachment to a top edge of a binder or folder; and, 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of clips of FIG. 4 shown in a use condition when attached to a top edge and a bottom edge of a binder or folder. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As shown in FIGS. 1-3, a book holding device  10  is provided with a pair of clips  12  and  52  for attaching to the spine or backbone  42  of a book or binder  40 . The clips  12  and  52  are generally made of a resilient material, such as a plastic or a selected metal, such as aluminum, and are of generally U-shaped or J-shaped configuration with a back leg  14  and  54 , respectively, and a front leg  16  and  56 , respectively. To the front legs  16 ,  56  are attached straps or strips  18  and  58 , respectively, of a fabric or other type flexible material which is attached at one end to the front legs  16 ,  56  of clips  12 ,  52 . Strips  18  and  58  may be attached to the legs  16  and  56  by any conventional means, such as an adhesive, grommets, or the like. At the opposed ends of the strips  18  and  58  are adjustable mating fastening devices, as identified by the numerals  20  and  60 , respectively. In a preferred embodiment the fasteners are made of hook and loop fasteners, such as VELCRO. Other fasteners may include buckle fastening devices well know for adjusting belt sizes as well as a hole-and-pin system which is well known for use on the back of ball caps for adjusting ball caps to various head sizes. Moreover, in a preferred embodiment the front legs  16 ,  56  are longer than the back legs  18 ,  54  thereby providing more surface area for attaching the straps  18  and  58  to the front legs. Also, in a preferred embodiment, the back legs  14  and  54  are of generally V-shaped construction or are provided with lip portions  22  and  62 , respectively, which extend inwardly toward the front legs  16  and  56 , respectively. 
     In the installation of the holding device  10  of the present invention, clips  12  and  52  are attached over the top and bottom outer edges of the backbone or spine  42  of a book or binder  40 . Faces of the adjacent surfaces of the hook fastener  20  and the loop fastener  60  are then brought together to form a fully adjustable single strap support for the hand which is placed in the opening  44  defined by the straps  18 ,  58  and the backbone or spine  42 . 
     In FIG. 4, a clip  112  is shown for attaching to the spine or back bone  142  of a binder or folder  140 , as shown in FIG.  5 . The clip  112  is generally made of a resilient material, such as a plastic or a selected metal, such as aluminum, and is of generally U-shaped or J-shaped configuration with a back leg  114  and a front leg  116 . The terminating end of the back leg  114  is provided with an outwardly extending lip portion  122  with a plurality of fingers  118  spaced therealong. Spacings  120  of a preselected width and depth are provided between the fingers  118 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 5, self-adjusting page retaining strips  124  for retaining non-perforated books, leaves, or pamphlets in place is shown. Strips  124 , such as elastic bands, metal wires, rods, or the like are attached to the fingers  118  and in use clips  112  are placed over the top and bottom edges of the spine or back bone  142  of the binder  140  with the strips  124  holding the pages in place. 
     To the front legs  116  of the clips  112  are attached straps  18  and  58 , as shown in FIG.  1  and described hereinbefore. 
     In the use of a holding device, including the clips  112  of the present invention, and as shown in FIG. 6, a pair of clips  112  are attached over the top and bottom edges of the back bone or spine  142  of a binder or folder  140 . Faces of the adjacent surfaces of a hook fastener  20  and a loop fastener  60 , are then brought together as shown in FIG. 1 to form a fully adjustable single strap support for the hand which is placed in the opening  44  defined by the straps  18 ,  58 , and the back bone or spine  142 . One end of the page retaining strips  124  are attached to the fingers  118  on the top clip  112  and the opposing end of the strips  124  are placed on the fingers  118  of the bottom clip  112 . A book, pamphlet  138  or the like, is then inserted in the spacing between the strips  124  and the binder  140 . 
     With the clips of  112  and the self-adjusting page retaining strips  124 , non-perforated books, leaves, or pamphlets of various dimensions and thickness are held in a selected position within a binder  140 . 
     The foregoing detailed description is given primarily for clearness of understanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom for modifications will become obvious to those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure and may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.