Abstract:
A Reading and Writing Assistant (RW) device has a foldable case for placing reading material in an open and readable position. A retractable light is housed within the case and connected to a battery with sliding contacts. The battery is connected to the sliding contacts with a switch that is OFF when the light is in a stored position and ON when said light is in position to illuminate the reading material. The RW device has a pocket for holding writing material, writing instrument and an electronic dictionary. An option allows the electronic dictionary to be coupled to a slider which attaches to a flexible guide extending from one side of the case to the other parallel to the top edge of the reading material. The electronic dictionary may be moved and placed on the page not being read allowing easy user access. A strap or zipper secures the RW device when closed.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is related to the following commonly owned U.S. patent application: 
   Application Ser. No. 09/903,816, “Reading and Writing Assistant Device,” filed Jul. 11, 2001 now abandoned, of which this Application is a continuation-in-part. 

   TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present invention relates in general to an apparatus for enhancing a reading experience of a user by providing integrated lighting, reading assistance devices and book or magazine protection and storage in one convenient package. 
   BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
   Day-timers are small notebook like units in which a user writes notes, telephone numbers, and other information that the user would like to reference. These Day-timers may also contain paper calendars and other useful elements that the user may need when organizing daily schedules. Many times a user may want to take notes when there is no adequate lighting to illuminate the pages of his or her notebook. At other times, a user may want to read a book or magazine without disturbing others by turning on a light that may be distracting. This may happen when the user is in an airplane or possibly while reading in bed. Because the lighting is not always available when the user desires to write a note or read a book or magazine, an individual may not be able to read or to write when in these or similar situations. Moreover, when reading a book or article, a user may come upon words and phrases that are not understood. The user may wish to look up these words in a dictionary to obtain their meanings to better help in understanding the material being read. While pocket electronic dictionaries are available, it is not always convenient to have one ready to use when one is reading a book. Similarly, a dictionary or Thesaurus may be convenient to have when writing. 
   While notebooks, writing instruments, pocket lights, pads of paper and an electronic dictionary and thesaurus are all available as separate items, a reading and writing assistant that combines all these elements in a synergistic package is not available. 
   Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 3,364,344 (U.S. Pat. No. 3,364,344) teaches an auxiliary book cover that has a rigid fixed light mounted to the book cover. Battery packs are attached to the outside of the book cover and a switch mechanism is incorporated so that the switch closes when the book covers are opened. U.S. Pat. No. 3,823,312 (U.S. Pat. No. 3,823,312) adds an elongated spine on the book cover in the form of a container for the batteries. Cover leaves are attached to the container and a lamp holder is mounted on one end of the container. A switch mechanism is included with contacts that close and connect the light to the battery when the cover leaves are opened and open and disconnect the battery from the light when the cover leaves are opened. Again, this provides a bulky package that does not necessarily lay flat when opened. The light is rigidly mounted to the assembly and is external to the unit and has little protection. The container designed for the batteries also limits the battery types that can be used. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,680,681 (U.S. Pat. No. 4,680,681) adds to the book covers of U.S. Pat. No. 3,823,312 by utilizing a smaller light and provides a light that is retractable. An elongated container is attached to the spine of the book cover and has two parallel compartments, one for the batteries and one for storing the light in a retractable position. Again, the assembly is rigid and the light and batteries are external to the cover assembly for holding a book or other reading material. While the container for the batteries and the light are protective, they keep the unit from laying flat and keep the batteries and light external to the covers that hold reading material. Foreign Patent No. WO 94/12076 adds pockets and a paper holder to the design disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,680,681. As in the prior art, the light and batteries remain contained in a rigid elongated container incorporated into the spine of the book cover and are still external to the book cover assembly. While the prior art has attempted to provide an integrated package for assisting in reading and writing in a variety of conditions, they have not made a reading assistant device that keeps the light and battery internal to the reading assistant device and provides a unit that lays flat and is easily stored in a brief case. 
   There is, therefore, a need for a product to assist in reading and writing that is a notebook like structure with features for storing a magazine or a book, electronic dictionaries, reading assistant devices, functional bookmarks, a retractable light and a writing pen or pencil in a way that enhances the reading and writing experience. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A Reading and Writing Assistant (RW) device includes a retractable, small reading light that is stored internal to the RW device. Batteries and electrical connections for the reading light are also internal to the RW device. The retractable light has automatic ON/OFF switching such that the light is OFF when in the stored position and ON when extracted and in position for use. The RW device may also include a writing pad and a place for putting a pen or pencil. 
   The retractable reading light is configured so that is it is extendable from within the notebook so the user can position it to a desired position. The battery pack for the retractable light is located within the RW device for easy access by the user. An electronic dictionary has a pocket storage location so that it is convenient and available to the user while reading a book or magazine. The electronic dictionary may also have (or alternately have) a thesaurus function along with other dictionary functions. The electronic dictionary may be sophisticated and include a crossword puzzle dictionary for those users who want to use the RW device while working crossword puzzles. The electronic dictionary has an option that allows it to be attached with a slider to a guide that extends across an inside edge of the RW device. This allows the small electronic dictionary to have a dual function of providing reference for the user as well as operating as a “functional bookmark.” Other reading assistant devices may be employed, such as, a planar magnifying Fresnel lens, which may be adapted and used as the functional bookmark. When reading a book or magazine, the functional bookmark (e.g., electronic dictionary) may be best positioned for use by placing it on the page that the user is not viewing. Other functional bookmarks (e.g., Fresnel lens) are positioned on the page being viewed. Without the functionality of the RW device, this would be difficult as it would require the user to constantly move the functional bookmark and hold it in place. With the addition of the flexible guide and the sliding attachment which is coupled to the functional bookmark, the user may simply slide the functional bookmark from one side of the RW device to the other while keeping it on the page of interest. The RW device also has either a zipper or Velcro fastener that allows the RW device to be held closed thereby protecting the light assembly, a book or magazine, functional bookmarks and the other elements wholly within the RW device. 
   The light assembly containing the retractable reading light and the batteries are wholly contained within the confines of the foldable case making up the body of the RW device. If the RW device is closed the light assembly and the batteries are protected along with other elements of the RW device. In embodiments that use a zipper to secure the foldable case when closed, the light assembly, batteries, and other elements of the RW device may be completely out of view while being protected. Having the light assembly and batteries wholly within the foldable case is more protective and results in a RW device that lays flat when in use and when stored, for example, in a brief case. The batteries are contained in an easily accessible storage area within the foldable case of the RW device and do not have bulky springs and contacts employed in the prior art. The storage area does not totally dictate the size of the batteries so replacement types are easier to obtain. 
   The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  illustrates elements contained in the RW device; 
       FIG. 2  is a view of the RW device with a book in place along with an electronic dictionary coupled to the flexible guide cord with a slider; 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the RW device showing the reading light extended from its storage location to enhance reading of a book; 
       FIG. 4A  is a side view of the RW device in the close position illustrating details of the electrical contact and circuits for coupling the extendable light to the battery; 
       FIG. 4B  is an expanded view of a switch and circuitry used for the RW device; 
       FIG. 5  is a flow diagram of method steps used in embodiments of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a flow diagram of method steps used in embodiments of the present invention; and 
     FIG.  7 A and  FIG. 7B  illustrate one embodiment of the present invention illustrating the light assembly incorporated wholly inside the RW device. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without such specific details. In other instances, well-known elements have been shown in block diagram form in order not to obscure the present invention in unnecessary detail. For the most part, details concerning manufacturing processes, materials and the like have been omitted in as much as such details are not necessary to obtain a complete understanding of the present invention and are within the skills of persons of ordinary skill in the relevant art. 
   Refer now to the drawings wherein depicted elements are not necessarily shown to scale and wherein like or similar elements are designated by the same reference numeral through the several views. 
     FIG. 1  shows RW device  100  in an open position exposing some reading and writing assistant elements. Case  101  houses the elements of the RW device  100 . Light assembly  130  comprises a retractable light  107  and is attached to its extension arm  121  and is shown partially extended from the case  101 . Case  101  is made as a continuous foldable cover and forms a natural cavity depression  131  which is shown dotted. Light assembly  130  is adapted to attach in cavity  131  and does not create any protrusion on the outside of case  101 . Cavity  131  may be covered with a thin piece of semi-rigid material  132  to insure a smooth surface when case  101  is opened. Extension arm  121  is flexible and allows light  107  to be positioned relative to the area of case  101  that contains the elements of RW device  100 . Contact rails  113  and  122  are coupled to light  107  and to one terminal of switch  108  with wire  118  and to the negative terminal of battery  106  with wire  119 . The positive terminal of battery  106  is connected to wire  120  which connects to the other terminal of switch  108 . Switch  108  opens and closes to control current flow to light  107 . Extension arm  121  has sliding contacts that electrically mate with contact rails  113  and  122  so the light  107  maintains a current flow when it is moved into and out of case  101 . 
   Light assembly  130  comprises light  107 , extension arm  121  and contact rails  113  and  122  and may operate external to RW device  100 . However, when it is attached into cavity  131  and electrically connected to battery  106  via a switch mechanism (e.g.,  108 ), it becomes an integral part of RW device  100 . Since light assembly  130  is a complete unit, it slips easily into cavity  131  which does not have to have rigid sides. The folded cover making up case  101  has a natural curvature when folded which forms cavity  131  inside of case  101  for light assembly  130 . This is an improvement over the prior art, which rigidly attaches an elongated container to book covers to make a housing for batteries and a light external to the book covers. A light assembly  130  useable with embodiments of the present invention is commercially available from Lumatec Industries, Inc., 500 Shady Lane, Austin, Tex. 78702. 
   Electrical connections to light  107  may be made with sliding contact rails  113  and  122 . This allows light  107  to be extended or retracted with extension arm  121  without having to manage a coil of wire. Switch  108  may be configured so that a portion of extension arm  121  makes or breaks contacts in switch  108 . Access to battery  106  may also be equipped with a connector (not shown) for coupling a charger (not shown) if RW device  100  contains re-chargeable batteries. Switch  108  may also be configured as an integral part of light assembly  130  by having one of the mating contacts  404  and  405  transition to a non-conducting surface on one of sliding contact rails  113  or  122  when extension arm  121  is retracted to the stored position, thus opening the electrical circuit. 
   RW device  100  may also have a writing pad  103  which is coupled into a pocket slot (not shown) to secure it inside case  101 . A writing instrument  104  is stored in a position close to writing pad  103 . Pocket  102  is used to store electronic device  105  when it is not in use. Case  101  may have a zipper  109  that is used for securing the elements of RW device  100  when it is closed. Other methods of securing case  101  in the closed position may be used (e.g., a Velcro strap) and still remain within the scope of the present invention. 
   RW device  100  is shown with flexible guide  112  which is attached to the inside surface of case  101  with fasteners  110 . When case  101  is in the open position, the length of flexible guide  112  causes it to be drawn tight so that it is in tension. Flexible guide  112  is threaded through rings  111  which in turn are coupled to attachment element  113  with flexible cords  104 . Attachment element  113  may be moved from one side of case  101  to the other by sliding rings  111  along flexible guide cord  112 . Attachment element  113  may have Velcro, flexible magnet material, etc. bonded to its surface. If electronic device  105  has a corresponding mating piece (e.g., a corresponding mating Velcro or flexible magnet material), then it may be coupled to attachment element  113 . When electronic device  105  is coupled to attachment element  113 , it may be moved across an inside edge of case  101  by sliding rings  111  along guide  112 . Flexible cords  104  allow electronic device  105  to be placed in a desired position within case  101 . When electronic device  105  is coupled to attachment element  113  it may also be lifted away from the surface of case  101  so that a book  201  (see  FIG. 2 ) or other reading material may be placed in RW device  100 . Flexible cords  104  allow electronic device  105  to then be placed on pages of book  201 . Other reading assistance devices (e.g., a planar Fresnel lens) may be adapted to attach to element  113 . A planar Fresnel lens (not shown) may be used to magnify text to improve visibility for users with poor vision. When the electronic device  105  or reading assistance device is not in use, it may be left on a page as a “functional bookmark”. Since RW device  100  is designed to store electronic device  105 , its position within RW device  100  does not alter its form when it is left on a page as a book mark. 
     FIG. 2  shows a book  201  positioned within RW device  100  and an electronic device (electronic dictionary)  105 . Retractable light  107  is also shown extending from the case  101 . Rings  111 , which are attached to flexible guide cord  112 , are shown coupled with attachment element  113  to electronic device  105  and allow the reader to place the electronic device  105  on the page of book  201  that a user is not reading. In this position, the electronic device  105  is available for use and does not interfer with the text on page  204  on the right side. When the reader turns the page of book  201 , electronic device  105  may be lifted away from page  203  and then slid across and placed on the next right page  204  where it will not interfere with text on the next left page  203 . Other reading assistance devices (e.g., a Fresnel lens) may be placed on a page that is being viewed while being used as a “functional bookmark.” 
     FIG. 3  is a side view of RW device  100  showing light  107  fully extended by extension arm  121  and shining light  302  on book  201 . Cavity  131  is shown internal to case  101  and is used to store light  107  when it is retracted. In the embodiment in  FIG. 3 , switch  108  makes contact to a portion of extension arm  121  when it is in the fully retracted position such that switch  108  disconnects battery  106  from the electrical circuit of light  107 . 
     FIGS. 4A and 4B  are section views of RW device  100  illustrating more details of the circuitry which may be used for operation of light  107 . In  FIG. 4A , case  101  is shown enclosing book  201 . Battery  106  has connecting wires  119  and  120 . Wire  120  connects to switch  108  (see  FIG. 4B ) and wire  119  connects to one of contact rails  113  (see FIG.  1 ). Light  107  and extension arm  121  are shown fully retracted such that a portion of extension arm  121  contacts button  403  on switch  108 . Button  403  is mechanically coupled to switch element  408  (see  FIG. 4B ) such that it operates to open the electrical connection of contacts  408  and  409  when extension arm  121  is in the fully retracted position. In other embodiments of the present invention, battery  106  may be connected to the electrical circuit of light  107  with a connector (not shown) enabling light assembly  130  to be removed from RW device  100 . 
     FIG. 4B  shows additional detail of the electrical circuit for light  107 . Switch  108  and section view A—A are shown expanded in FIG.  4 B. Contact  408  of switch  108  is connected to the positive terminal of battery  106  with wire  120  and contact  409  is connected to contact rail  113  (connection  116 , see FIG.  1 ). Extension arm  121  has contacts  404  and  405  which are connected to corresponding terminals on the electrical circuit of light  107 . Spring  401  presses extension arm  121  to contact rails  113  and  122  to insure good electrical connection when extension arm  121  is being extended. The negative terminal of battery  106  is connected to contact rail  122  (contact  115 , see  FIG. 1 ) with wire  119 . When light  107  is fully retracted, a portion of extension arm  121  engages button  403  on switch  108  and opens contacts  408  and  409  turning light  107  OFF. As light  107  is being extended, contacts  408  and  409  close and light  107  turns ON. While light  107  is being fully extended, contacts  404  and  405  make continuous sliding electrical connection to contact rails  113  and  122 . In an alternate embodiment, one of contacts  404  and  405  slides off its corresponding contact rail  113  or  122  to turn light  107  off. 
     FIG. 5  is a flow diagram of method steps in one embodiment of the present invention. In step  501 , an extendable light  107  is integrated within a foldable case  101  which has an open position for examining viewable material and a close position for securing the viewable material. In step  502 , extendable light  107  is coupled to a battery source  106  with a switch that electrically connects the battery to extendable light  107  when it is extended and disconnects battery source  106  when extendable light  107  is retracted within foldable case  101 . In step  503 , foldable case  101  is opened exposing viewable material (e.g., book  201 ). In step  504 , extendable light  107  is extended to a position where switch  108  connects battery source  106  and turns it on and light  302  illuminates book  201  so that it may be read. In step  505 , light  107  is retracted to a storage position within case  101  where switch  108  disconnects battery source  106  turning it off. In step  506 , foldable case  101  is closed and secured with a securing mechanism (e.g., zipper  109 ). 
     FIG. 6  is a flow diagram of method steps in another embodiment of the present invention. In step  601 , an extendable light  107  is integrated within a foldable case  101  which has an open position for examining viewable material and a close position for securing the viewable material. In step  602 , extendable light  107  is coupled to a battery source  106  with a switch that electrically connects the battery to extendable light  107  when it is extended and disconnects battery source  106  when extendable light  107  is retracted within foldable case  101 . In step  603 , foldable case  101  is opened exposing viewable material (e.g., book  201 ). In step  604 , extendable light  107  is extended to a position where switch  108  connects battery source  106  and turns it on and light  302  illuminates book  201  so that it may be read. In step  605 , an electronic device  105  or reading assistant element is coupled to a flexible guide cord  112  with attachment  113  and cords  104 . In step  606 , electronic device  105  or reading assistant element is alternately positioned over pages of book  201  not being viewed (or being viewed) so that it is in place for use. If electronic device  105  is a dictionary, it may be used to look up words or phrases while reading book  201 . In step  607 , electronic device  105  is left positioned on a page as a functional bookmark to hold a readers place in book  201  when foldable case  101  is closed. 
   FIG.  7 A and  FIG. 7B  illustrate one embodiment of the present invention illustrating the light assembly  130  incorporated wholly inside RW device  100 . In  FIG. 7A , foldable case  101  with exemplary zipper  109  is shown open and substantially flat. An exemplary zipper tab  703  is also shown. The material holding zipper  109  is shown clear so that cavity  131  is observable. Cavity  131  is naturally formed by structures  701  and  702  that make up the storage (e.g., pockets) for holding elements of RW device  100  (e.g., electronic device, pad, pen, etc.). Self-contained light assembly  130  may be secured in cavity  131  by straps or other means without resorting to a container as is done in the prior art. In the embodiment of  FIGS. 7A and 7B , light assembly  130  resides wholly within foldable case  101  and would be out of view if zipper  109  is zippered closed.  FIG. 7B  illustrates how foldable case  101  conforms to light assembly  130  during closing and securing RW device  100 . When RW device  100  is open or closed, the outside surface is smooth without protrusions and all the elements of RW device  100  are securely held within the cover of foldable case  101 . Foldable case  101  has two surfaces when opened. The inside surface that contains storage for the writing pad, battery, functional bookmark, etc. and the outside surface. When the foldable case is closed the inside surface forms a “inside space” for the elements and the outside surface provides the protection surface. The light assembly  130  is wholly within this inside space when the foldable case is closed. This is differentiated from a container for the light and battery that is coupled to the outside surface as is done in the prior art. 
   In one embodiment of the present invention, battery  106  has a rectangular area and a thickness of a note pad. In this embodiment, battery  106  slips into a pocket like a paper pad and is adaptable to connect to light  107  or to an auxiliary connector (not shown) for use with one of the functional bookmark devices (e.g., electronic dictionary, PDA, etc.). Battery  106  may be further adapted to be recharged with a compatible charger by using the same auxiliary connector (not shown). Battery  106  may be configured with a cable that allows it to be plugged into light assembly  130  such that both battery  106  and light assembly  130  may be removed from RW device  100  for off-line use. A battery  106  for use in this embodiment is commercially available from PEP, Inc., 940 Disc Drive, Scotts Valley, Calif. 95066. 
   Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.