Adjustable reading material supporter

An adjustable reading material supporter 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 inclined 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 can be laid substantially flat during storage is disclosed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to a novel and improved adjustable reading material 
supporter adapted to be placed on a desk, table top, dresser or other 
suitable flat surface. The supporter is adapted to receive and support 
reading material such as books, magazines, newspapers or single sheets, in 
a position convenient for reading, relative to a reader, or for display. 
Further, the adjustable reading material supporter of the invention 
accomodates a wide range of sizes and thicknesses of reading material such 
as, for example, books of various sizes and thicknesses as well as other 
reading material such as magazines and newspapers. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Reading stands, book racks, book holders and a wide variety of foldable 
racks are known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 3,007,278 discloses a foldable 
bookholder adapted to support reading material in a position convenient 
for reading. The book holder disclosed in the patent comprises six 
elements including a vertically adjustable upper back support member 
wherein the edges and back structure are co-planar and aligned. An item of 
reading material is supported by resting the item between the vertically 
adjustable upper back support and pocket portions formed in forward 
extending side member. The assembled bookholder utilizes a pair of 
elongated coupling strips which performs the dual function of pivotally 
supporting the side members and concurrently forming a receiver or base 
for the vertically adjustable upper back support. 
Other known study stands utilize a rigid fixed back support wherein all 
back support points are co-planar and aligned. Pocket ends are formed in 
wire members which are wound in a number of turns coaxially wound around 
rigid fixed back support such that the pocket ends can be rotated into a 
folded position for storage and into a support position for usage. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The adjustable reading material supporter of the present invention is a 
light weight, sturdy assembled unit adapted to be placed upon a flat 
surface, such as a study desk or the like, fur supporting reading material 
in a position convenient for reading or other use, such as for displaying 
books, magazines or the like. 
Upon completion of use, the reading material supporter may be easily folded 
into a substantially flat planar structure for storage or for convenient 
transportation. 
The adjustable reading material supporter of the present invention has 
several advantages over the prior art devices. One advantage is that the 
device is formed of essentially three basic components which are easily 
assembled into a light weight, convenient, sturdy integral unit. The known 
prior art devices generally comprise either three or more components or 
elements which generally are more difficult to assemble. 
Another advantage of the present invention over the known prior art devices 
is the ability of the supporter to provide a sturdy support for a book or 
other item of reading material while supporting the same in a position 
which is convenient for reading. The adjustable reading material supporter 
of the present invention is formed of two identical side members and a 
single elongated back structure. Each side member is formed of an extended 
vertical back portion which terminates in a support end. Extending from 
the vertical back portion is a substantially horizontal base portion which 
terminates in a deflector guide end. The deflector guide end is inclined 
in a spaced upward and rearward direction relative to the back portion. 
The back structure has two ends each of which is pivotally connected to and 
essentially is clamped around the back portion of one side member. The 
side members and back structure are assembled into an integral structure 
having the support ends in a spaced parallel relationship on one side of 
the back structure with the base portion being positioned on the other 
side of the back structure. The integral unit is mechanically stable and 
is supported by the base portion of the side member. 
One unique advantage of the present invention is that the parallel spaced 
support ends of the side members form two support points extending beyond 
the back structure. Thus, when an item of reading material is placed on 
the supporter such as an opened book, the upper portion of the spine of 
the book engages the back structure while the upper portion of each of the 
back and front cover, or front pages, if no cover exists, engages the 
support points. Concurrently, the lower portion of the spine engages the 
top surface, such as the surface of a study desk, while the lower portion 
of the opened pages engage and are supported by the deflector guide ends. 
The stacked pages of an opened book may be thicker on one side than on the 
other side. For example, 10 pages of a 300-page book may be positioned on 
one side and the balance thereof on the other side. The adjustable feature 
of the present invention permits rotation of one or both of the side 
members around each pivotal clamped support end of the back structure to 
afford positioning of the tip of the one or both of the deflected guide 
ends tightly against the opened pages urging the pages of the book between 
the guide end and cover into a flat position between the base portion and 
guide end. Single pages may be turned by sliding the page out from one 
guide end and slipping that page in between the opposite surface page and 
the guide end. 
The integral structure results in supporting an item of reading material 
such that the single page or pages facing the user are at less than an 180 
.degree. angle and the item is supported in a convenient natural reading 
position. The support position is due, in part, to the two support points 
and the back structure being co-planar to each other but with only the 
ends of the support ends being in alignment and with the back structure 
being displaced therebelow.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The adjustable reading material supporter illustrated in FIG. 1 has a pair 
of unitary side members 22 and 24. Each side member 22 and 24 includes an 
extended vertical back portion, 26 and 28 respectively, which terminate in 
aligned support ends 30 and 32 respectively. Each support end 30 and 32 
may have a resilient means such as a fitted plastic tip 34 and 36 
respectively, formed thereon. 
Each side member 22 and 24 has a substantially horizontal base portion, 40 
and 42 respectively, each of which terminates in a deflector guide end, 44 
and 46 respectively. 
Each deflector guide end 44 and 46 is inclined in a spaced upward and 
rearward direction relative to its respective back portion 26 and 28. Each 
deflector guide end 44 and 46 may have a resilient means, such as a fitted 
plastic tip 50 and 52 respectively. 
The third component or element is a rigid elongated back structure 56. The 
back structure 56 has a pair of spaced aligned ends 58 and 60 each 
defining a passageway 64 and 66 respectively. The passageway 64 and 66 are 
of a selected dimension to clamp and pivotally support the extended back 
portion of a side member. 
In FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4, the end 58 of back structure 56 clamps and 
pivotally supports back portion 26 while end 60 clamps pivotally support 
back portion 28. 
The back structure 56 and the side members 22 and 24 are assembled to form 
an integral structure assembly. The integral assembly has the support ends 
30 and 32 extending from one side of the back structure 56 and the 
horizontal base portion 40 and 42 positioned on the other side thereof. 
Back portion 26 extends through passageway 64 of end 58 enabling side 
member 22 to be rotated therearound relative to the clamped pivotal 
support end 58. Similarly, back portion 28 extends through passageway 66 
of end 60 enabling side member 24 to be rotated therearound relative to 
the clamped pivotal support end 60. 
The back portions 26 and 28 are clamped in a substantially spaced planar 
parallel relationship by ends 58 and 60 respectively. Thus, each side 
member 22 and 24 can be independently rotated in its respective end 58 and 
60. 
Referring again to FIG. 1, a bound book illustrated by dashed lines 80 is 
illustrated with the upper cover portions 82 and 84 thereof resting 
against the support ends 30 and 32 via plastic tips 34 and 36 
respectively. The spine 86 of the book 80 rests against the back structure 
56. 
The lower portion of the book, designated by 90 and 92, engage and are 
supported by the deflected guide ends 44 and 46 respectively. Thus, the 
book is supported between the planar support ends 30 and 32, back 
structure 56 and deflected guide ends 44 and 46. 
Referring to FIG. 2, the side members 22 and 24 are adapted to be rotated 
about pivotal support ends 58 and 60 respectively. Rotation occurs between 
the vertical back portions 26 and 28 relative to passageways 64 and 66 
defined by ends 58 and 60 respectively. The various alternate position of 
the base portion 40 and 42 and deflected guide ends 44 and 46 are depicted 
by dashed positions 96 and 98 for base portion 40 and 100 and 102 for base 
portion 42. The base portions are rotatable to accommodate different sizes 
and shapes of reading material or to be formed into a relatively planar, 
compact position for storage. 
FIG. 3 illustrates the points where the adjustable reading material 
supporter removeably engages and supports the book 80. The upper portions 
82 and 84 of book 80 engage support ends 30 and 32 via plastic tips 34 and 
36 at support points 108 and 110 respectively. The spine 86 engages the 
back structure 56 at contact point 116. The lower portion of the cover 90 
and 92 engage base portions 40 and 42 at points 112 and 114 respectively. 
The spine 86 engages the surface upon which the supporter rests at point 
116. 
FIG. 4 is an exploded view showing the support points 108, 110 and 116 in 
greater detail. The support ends 30 and 32 and back structure 56 are 
co-planar. The contact points 108 and 110 are aligned relative to each 
other. Contact point 116, although co-planar, is not aligned with points 
100 and 110. This results in the spline 86 being supported by the back 
structure 56 in one plane and the cover portions 82 and 84 being supported 
by the support ends 30 and 32 in a different plane. 
FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 illustrate the adjustable feature of the integral unit to 
support books in a convenient reading position. FIG. 5 illustrates an 
arrangement whereby the displayed pages are located at the rear or end of 
a book. Thus, there are more pages stacked toward cover portion 82. To 
support the book in this position, guide end 46 is essentially in the 
position depicted by the dashed line 100 of FIG. 2. However, guide end 46 
is positioned toward the spline 86 such that the thin stack of pages can 
be engaged and supported. 
FIG. 6 shows that when the pages of book 80 are fairly evenly distributed 
to the cover portions 82 and 84, the guide ends 44 and 46 are positioned 
in about the same relative position to the back structure 56. 
FIG. 7 shows the position of guide end 44 when a larger number of pages are 
positioned toward cover portion 84. The position of guide end 40 is 
essentially depicted by the dashed line 96 of FIG. 2. 
FIG. 8 shows clamped pivotal support ends 58 and 60 defined by ends of back 
structure 52. The back portions 30 and 32 have a circular cross-section. 
Thus, the passageway 64 and 66 have a geometrical dimension to accomodate 
the dimension of the back portions 30 and 32. The back structure 56 has a 
rectangular cross-section. However, it is envisioned that any elongated 
member with appropriate clamping pivotal support ends may be used. One 
example may be a tubular back structure formed of a thin-walled circular 
member having bearing or other apertures formed thereon for receiving and 
rotatably supporting the side members. 
FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 depict an end view of the adjustable reading material 
supporter supporting a book, folded newspaper and single-sheet 
respectively. In FIG. 9, book 80 is supported at three points of support 
108, 112 and 116. Note that the plastic tip 50 on guide end 44 removeably 
engages the book page. 
FIG. 10 depicts a single sheet of paper 130 which engages back structure 56 
and support ends 30 and 32 at the top and guides 44 and 46 at the bottom. 
FIG. 11 depicts a newspaper 132 conveniently supported by the supporter. 
The paper is curved by the two support ends 30 and 32 engaging the paper 
edge, for example, contact point 136 and the center of the paper engages 
the back structure 56 at contact point 134. Similarly, the bottom of the 
paper engages the base portions 40 and 42, such as, for example, contact 
point 138 on base portion 40. Guide end 44 insures that the bottom of the 
paper is rigidly supported. The flexed curved paper is rigidly supported 
by the various support points. 
FIG. 12 illustrates the general angle between the back portion 26 and base 
portion 40 of side member 22. The magnitude of the angle determines the 
tilt of the supported reading material to the user. In the preferred 
embodiment, the angle is about 87.degree.. 
FIG. 13 illustrates the general angle between the base portion 40 and 
deflector guide end 44 of side member 26. The desired angle is one which 
permits the plastic tip 50 to yieldably engage the page or pages of the 
material for support but permits easy removal or insertion of pages while 
the item of reading material is supported. In the preferred embodiment, 
the angle is about 62.degree.. 
FIG. 14 is an exploded view of the assembly between the back structure 56 
and back portion 26. Back structure 56 terminates in an end 58 which 
defines a passageway 64 which pivotally clamps and supports back portion 
26 while enabling the same to be rotatable therein as described in 
connection with FIG. 2. 
FIG. 15 is a sectional view showing the surface of the back structure 56 
and the surface of base portion 26 and support end 30 with a chrome 
plating layer 142 having a thickness of a few thousandths of an inch. The 
chrome plating is accomplished on an assembled unit resulting in a collar 
144 and 146 on the exterior of support end 58 which aids in holding the 
back portion in position while permitting the side member 22 to be 
rotated. 
The integral assembly is formed of three basic components; namely, the pair 
of side members and the back structure. In the preferred embodiment, the 
side members are formed of a circular metal wire bent into the desired 
shape. The back structure is formed of a metal rectangular shaped bar 
stock with the end thereof curved around and clamped to the exterior of 
the wire side member. The amount of clamping force is important in that 
the pressure between the end of the back structure and wire member must be 
sufficient to hold the back structure in position, but loose enough to 
permit rotation of the side member with application of a reasonable 
rotational force. If desired, a drop or two of graphite or oil may be 
applied to the passageway to provide a limited amount of lubrication. 
The physical size of the adjustable reading material supporter is a 
function of the application. For example, if a large poster size item of 
reading material is to be supported, then the selected dimensions of the 
supporter should be of sufficient size to structurally support the item. 
In addition, the thickness of the plating layer on the assembled unit can 
be controlled to form guide collars around the ends of the back structure 
or, in the alternative, the passageway may be defined by preformed ridges 
or other restrictive means to maintain the relative position of the 
support end above or below the back structure.