Abstract:
A device for holding a document or book, comprising, a base, a support surface member pivotally connected to the base and movable between a storage position and an operative position, means for temporarily securing the support surface member in the operative position, a writing ledge adapted to support the document or book positioned on the support surface member and means for temporarily attaching the writing ledge to the support surface member, wherein the writing ledge has a least one indentation therein adapted to allow a user of the device to position a hand or forearm within the indentation without interference with the writing ledge.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to Canadian Patent Application No. 2,666,950, filed on May 27, 2009, the complete disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a book and document holding device, and more particularly, relates to a book and document holding device having removable and interchangeable writing and document support ledges. 
         [0004]    2. Brief Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Devices for holding and supporting a book or document are well known. In some circumstances it may be desirable that the book or document be positioned on an angle to the horizontal to facilitate the comfortable posture and neck orientation of those individuals utilizing the book or document. Some book and document holders have an inclined surface upon which the book or document may be positioned, and also provide a ledge on the lowest edge of the inclined surface to support the book or document from falling from the inclined surface. While this ledge may readily prevent the book or document from sliding off of the inclined surface, it may also present an impediment to the ergonomic utilization of the book or document positioned thereon, as the height of the ledge may interfere with a users wrist or arm during utilization. 
         [0006]    It is desirable to have a book and document holder having an inclined surface upon which to position a book or document having a writing ledge attachable to the lowest edge of the inclined surface having one or more indents therein to eliminate or reduce interference between the writing ledge and the user&#39;s wrist or forearm when the user is for example writing or drawing on the book or document. It is also desirable that such a writing ledge be usable by both left handed and right handed users. It is also desirable to have a book ledge attachable to the lowest edge of the inclined surface that can be readily substituted for the writing ledge. It is also desirable to have a fast, secure and effective arrangement for interchanging the writing ledge and the book ledge on the book and document holder. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a book and document holder having an inclined surface upon which to position a book or document having a writing ledge attachable to the lowest edge of the inclined surface having one or more indents therein to eliminate or reduce interference between the writing ledge and the users wrist or forearm when the user is for example writing or drawing on the book or document. 
         [0008]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a writing ledge be usable by both left handed and right handed users. 
         [0009]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a book ledge attachable to the lowest edge of the inclined surface that can be readily substituted for the writing ledge. 
         [0010]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a fast, secure and effective arrangement for interchanging the writing ledge and the book ledge on the book and document holder. 
         [0011]    According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for holding a document or book, comprising, a base, a support surface member pivotally connected to the base and movable between a storage position and an operative position, means for temporarily securing the support surface member in the operative position; a writing ledge adapted to support the document or book positioned on the support surface member and means for temporarily attaching the writing ledge to the support surface member, wherein the writing ledge has a least one indentation therein adapted to allow a user of the device to position a hand or forearm within the indentation without interference with the writing ledge. 
         [0012]    An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a book and document holder having an inclined surface upon which to position a book or document having a writing ledge attachable to the lowest edge of the inclined surface having one or more indents therein to eliminate or reduce interference between the writing ledge and the users wrist or forearm when the user is for example writing or drawing on the book or document. 
         [0013]    A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides a writing ledge usable by both left handed and right handed users. 
         [0014]    A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides a book ledge attachable to the lowest edge of the inclined surface that can be readily substituted for the writing ledge. 
         [0015]    A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides a fast, secure and effective arrangement for interchanging the writing ledge and the book ledge on the book and document holder. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a view, partially in ghost, of one embodiment of the present invention with a writing ledge positioned for use by a right-handed user; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of a point of attachment of between the writing ledge and the support surface member of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3A  is a view of a writing ledge of one embodiment of the present invention oriented for use by a right handed user; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3B  is a view of the writing ledge of  FIG. 3A  oriented for use by a left handed user; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3C  is a view of a shortened writing ledge of an alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a view of a lengthened writing ledge of an alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a view of one embodiment of the present invention with a book ledge positioned thereon; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a view of a book ledge of one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a view of a book ledge of an alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged view of the embodiment of the adjustment plate of one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  illustrates an embodiment of the present invention with a widened support surface member and dual writing ledges attached thereto. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0028]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 5 , a book and document holding device  1  is provided, having, in a preferred embodiment, a base  2  preferably made of wood, plastic or other suitable material that may be positioned, for example, on a flat surface such as a table top (not shown), the base  2  being preferably pivotably connected by way of, for example, a hinge  9 , to a support surface member  4  preferably made of, for example, melamine-faced particle or chip board or other suitable material known to a person skilled in the art, the support surface member  4  being pivotable (as illustrated by the arrow  15 ) about the hinge  9  between a lowered storage position to an operative raised position for use and being supportable by one or more support legs  8  preferably made of ¼″ threaded steel rod and preferably connected to one another as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , it being understood that alternative support devices of alternative materials may be utilized in a manner known to a person skilled in the art, the support legs  8  being preferably pivotably connected to the underside of the support surface member  4  by way of collars  11  screwed into or otherwise securely fastened to the underside of the support surface member  4 , the collars  11  being adapted to snugly and rotatably receive a portion of the support legs  8  in such a manner as to allow the support legs  8  to rotate within the collars  11  (as illustrated by the arrow  13 ) the lower end of the support leg  8  being insertable into one of the holes  12  in an adjustment plate  10  securely fastened to the base  2  (preferably, where the base is made of wood, by way of wood screws  42  passing through slots  40  in the adjustment plate  10  and into the base, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 ), it being understood that alternative devices of alternative materials may be utilized in a manner known to a person skilled in the art to securely fasten the adjustment plate  10  to the base  2 . 
         [0029]    In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a writing ledge  14  is provided as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  3 A and  3 B for releasable attachment to the lower edge  16  of the support surface  4  member as more fully described herein, the writing ledge  14  being preferably made of plastic or PVC material of approximately ¼″ thickness, it being understood that alternative thicknesses and alternative materials may be utilized in a manner known to a person skilled in the art. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in  FIG. 3A , a main indentation  22  is provided so that when the writing ledge  14  is installed on the lower edge  16  of the support surface member as described herein, the main indentation  22  is substantially flush with the upper surface of the support surface member as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . In this configuration (that is, then the main indentation  22  is positioned nearest the right hand side of the support surface member as illustrated in  FIG. 1 ), when a document is positioned on the support surface member, a right-handed individual may position their right wrist or fore-arm within the area provided by the main indentation  22  so as to comfortably write or draw on the document. A supplementary indentation  24  is also provided so that if necessary, the right-handed individual may instead position their right wrist or fore-arm within the area provided by the supplementary indentation  24  (for example, where the individual is desirous of writing or drawing in the lower left corner of a document positioned on the support surface member). If the individual is left-handed, the writing ledge  14  may be instead be oriented as illustrated in  FIG. 3B , and attached to the lower edge  16  of the support surface member such that the main indentation  22  is on the left hand side of the support surface member). As illustrated in  FIG. 3C , a shortened writing ledge is alternatively provided (for use on book and document holding devices of narrower width), the supplementary indentation  24  being of reduced length in this embodiment. 
         [0030]    In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, slots  20  are provided in the writing ledge to facilitate, as more fully described herein, the quick and secure temporary connection of the writing ledge  14  to the lower edge  16  of the support surface member, it being understood that alternative quick and secure temporary connection devices of alternative materials may be utilized in a manner known to a person skilled in the art. 
         [0031]    In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, to facilitate the quick and secure temporary connection of the writing ledge  14  to the lower edge  16  of the support surface member, two or more wood screws  18  protrude a small distance from the lower edge  16  of the support surface member  4  which are adapted to be positioned within the slots  20  and  54  of the writing ledge  14  and the book ledge  50  (more fully described below) respectively. An enlarged view of a wood screw engaging a slot in a writing ledge which is illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0032]    In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a book ledge  50  as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6  is provided, the book ledge  50  having an upright member  52  for attachment to the lower edge  16  of the support surface member by way of the slots  54  provided therein and positioned to correspond to the position of the wood screws  18  protruding a small distance from the lower edge  16  of the support surface member which as described herein. The book ledge  50  has an upper lip  56  which, as illustrated in  FIG. 5  extends substantially perpendicularly to the upright member  52  to enhance the holding characteristics of the book ledge  50  where desirable. The orientation of the book ledge  50  may be reversed and re-attached to the support surface member so that the upper lip  56  extends away from the support surface member  4  if desirable so that the upper lip  56  will not interfere, for example, with the turning of the pages of a book positioned on the support surface member  4 . 
         [0033]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 5 , in one embodiment of the present invention, a clipboard-type lever arm clip  6  or other similar device may be securely fastened to the support surface member  4  to provide additional and temporary secure engagement of any documents to the support surface member  4 . 
         [0034]    In one embodiment of the present invention, a longer writing ledge and a longer book ledge may be provided as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 7  respectively for installation on a wide support surface member having three wood screws  18  protruding a small distance from the lower edge  16  thereof for engagement with the corresponding slots  20  and  54  respectively on the longer writing ledge and a longer book ledge in the manner previously described. 
         [0035]    In a further embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , an extra-wide support surface member is illustrated having four wood screws  18  protruding a small distance from the lower edge  16  thereof for engagement with the corresponding slots in two adjacently fastened shortened writing ledges  14  of the type illustrated in  FIG. 3C . 
         [0036]    By removing the support legs  8  from the selected holes  12 , the support leg  8  can by pivoted (as illustrated by the arrow  13  in  FIG. 1 ) within the collars  11  to a position adjacent the underside of the support surface member  4  so that the support surface member  4  can be lowered (that is, rotated within the collars  11  relative to the base  2 , as illustrated by the arrow in  FIG. 1 ) into a position proximate the base  2  so that the book and document holding device  1  can be readily stored or moved. 
         [0037]    The present invention has been described herein with regard to preferred embodiments. However, it will be obvious to persons skilled in the art that a number of variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as described herein.