Copy holder

A copy holder device or supporting at least one sheet comprises a body having an extension arm for receiving a sheet and an attachment arm having attachment means for attachment to a surface of an office machine and a coupling mechanism between the extension and attachment arms which permits rotation of one arm with respect to the other.

FIELD 
The present invention relates to a copy holder for supporting copy or notes 
to be typed on, for example, a personal computer, word processor, 
typewriter, etc. 
BACKGROUND 
Copy holders are used to support copy or notes in a position where the 
contents can easily be read by a typist whilst typing them on a keyboard. 
It should not be underestimated how useful copy holders are. Copy which is 
badly positioned can give the typist a great deal of physical discomfort 
and can result in a reduction in the typist's speed. 
A variety of copy holders are known, one of which attaches to the typist's 
equipment and it is to this type of copy holder that the present invention 
relates. These copy holders comprise of two substantially blade-like 
interconnected arms, one of which serves as an attachment by a fastener, 
such as double sided adhesive tape, to the typist's equipment and the 
other as a extension for attaching the copy in a convenient position for 
the typist adjacent to the monitor or visual display unit. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention allows the two arms to be separated by means of a 
rotatable joint thus saving considerably on space when the copy holder is 
packaged and provides for a bracing system of high efficiency which much 
reduces the tendency of the copyholding arm to sag under load and provides 
stability to the copy. The arrangement allows substantial savings in 
materials. 
Preferably each arm is terminated by a flanged cylinder such that one 
cylinder fits within the other and is locked when the flanges are opposite 
each other. The flanges are of sufficient length to allow the copy to be 
rotated to the most convenient position for the typist. The joint can only 
be separated by rotating to a position that would set the arms 
substantially at right angles, a position not used by the typist. 
The bottom of the cylinder on the attachment arm may be moulded to provide 
a substantially vertical face which braces or cantilevers the copyholding 
extension adjacent to the monitor or visual display unit, helping to 
prevent sagging by providing points of contact at substantially right 
angles to the copyholding extension in the substantially vertical plane 
and provides stability in the substantially horizontal plane. The 
importance of having a substantial support at this point should not be 
underestimated, particularly as the copy holder can be rotated by the 
typist to the most convenient angle which imposes considerable leverage at 
this point including horizontal, vertical twist motions. 
The extension arm may have a cross section which is substantially T-shaped 
to aid rigidity. 
In another preferred embodiment the substantially bladelike extension arm 
braces vertically against the attachment arm at the bottom of the 
cylindrical section of the attachment arm to which it is attached by means 
of the flanged connection as described above. This provides extra support 
under load.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS 
Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown a copy holder 10 with an attachment arm 
12 which is attached to a monitor or visual display unit 11 by a means 
such as doubled sided adhesive tape 34 (see FIG. 4). Referring to FIGS. 2, 
3 and 4 and 5 this arm is releasably attached to the extension arm 14 by 
means of opposed flanges 28 on the outer cylindrical surface of cylinder 
26 which is affixed to extension arm 14 interlocking corresponding opposed 
flanges 36 on an interior cylindrical surface of cylinder 31 affixed to 
the attachment arm 12. The copy holder 10 braces or cantilevers against 
the monitor at 30 which is in effect an abutment wall formed axially of 
cylindrical section 31 providing support against sagging in a vertical 
plane and stability in the horizontal plane. 
A `T` bar section 16 of the extension arm 14 has slidably attached a paper 
clamp 18. As shown in FIG. 6 in section, the clamp 18 has two extensions 
23 and 25 which extend beneath a cross piece 20 transverse to piece 24. 
Thus, both sides of cross piece 20 are slidably embraced by clamp 18. A 
depending portion 22 having a rectangular aperture 39 extends along one 
face of piece 24 and has a pair of triangular end plates 41 which create a 
cavity within the clamp with one wall converging downwardly towards piece 
24. A short section of cylindrical rod 27 slides within the cavity and 
when forced downwardly by a user's finger causes depending portion 22 to 
move outwardly and clamp any sheet(s) which may be between the rod section 
27 and piece 24. 
The interlocking relationship of flanges 28 and 36 is shown in top view in 
FIG. 7. Initially during insertion of the cylindrical portion 26 of 
extension arm 14 into the cylinder 31 of attachment arm 12 flanges 28 and 
36 are at 90 degrees to each other so that flanges 28 slide past flanges 
36 until edge 37 abuts shoulder 43. Arm 12 is then aligned with extension 
arm 14 bringing flanges 36 into axial alignment with flanges 28. Rotation 
of extension arm 14 up to angles close to 90 degrees can be tolerated 
without unlocking of the cylinders. 
Any sagging on the extension arm 14 at the cylindrical section 19 due to 
loading would be supported due to the extension arm 14 being braced 
against the substantially cylindrical section 31 along the end edge 33 of 
piece 24. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 a top edge 37 of cylindrical section 
19 of attachment arm 12 is serrated to resist unintentional rotation of 
extension arm 14 relative to attachment arm 12.