Abstract:
The present invention describes a foldable device useful for supporting an article, such as a book. The foldable device may be unfolded to a convenient size and locked into a firm position to support an article such as a book. When not in use the foldable device is folded to approximately half of its unfolded dimension.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a compact foldable article useful for supporting a second article, such as a book. 
     2. Description of the Art Practices 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,868,389 issued to Kalivas Feb. 9, 1999 describes a portable game board. The portable game board of Kalivas is stated to be made of a fabric sheet, printed with the game board design, and hemmed at two opposing edges. Two dowels are inserted through the hems. A pair of frame rails include pivotably mounted legs. Holes are provided in the frame rails for insertion of the dowels and for spreading the dowels approximately the length of the fabric sheet. The legs are pivotally mounted to frame rails by pins for storing the legs in a linear relationship with the frame rails, and for deploying the legs in a support attitude against the dowels. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,838 issued to Bohrer on Feb. 14, 1995 there is described a collapsible stiff game board. The game board of Bohrer is stated to be inexpensive, easy to manufacture, stiff, two-axis collapsible, repeatably/markable/erasable, lightweight game board. The game board of Bohre is comprised of segments loosely attached to one or more fasteners. Upon expansion the segments of the collapsible stiff game board interlock and maintain the game board shape. 
     Whaley describes a convertible game carrying case in U.S. Pat. No. 4,875,688. The Whaley patent issued Oct. 24, 1989. The Whaley patent further describes the convertible game carrying case as convertible to a game board including two identical half sections, symmetrical in construction and doweling. The two sections can be adapted to house the playing pieces in the carrying case configuration. The sections can also be oriented so that when section one and section two are connected end-to-end, they provide the playing surface. Dowel pins are affixed to section one. Dowel holes on the second section are adapted to frictionally receive the dowel pins for both the carrying case and the game board configurations. 
     A portable lighted study or game tray is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,312,507 issued Jan. 26, 1982 to Smith, et al. The Smith, et al., patent describes a portable tray for use in various activities such as study or games is disclosed. The tray includes an accessory bag located beneath the center portion of the tray, with a hinged cover which folds flat with the main portion of the base. Hinged legs are provided on the under side of the tray to provide support during use. The sides of the base are curved outwardly toward the user to increase the adjacent usable tray surface. A detachable light is conveniently mounted on the rear of the tray. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,220,598 issued to Kweitko, et al., on Apr. 24, 2001 describes a protective skirt disposed on the surface of a gaming table of the type having a player area and a dealer area. The gaming table additionally includes a rail covering the margin of the gaming table proximate the player area. The skirt includes an inner edge, which may be optionally tapered, and an outer edge disposed proximate the rail such that the skirt extends onto the gaming table surface to overlay at least a portion of the player area of the gaming table. Optionally, the outer edge of the Kweitko, et al., device has a shape to substantially conform to the shape of the gaming table. Thus, for a gaming table that is arcuate, the outer edge is substantially arcuate. In an optional embodiment, the skirt may be fixed by securing the outer edge between the rail and the gaming table. 
     A molded plastic binder is described in Karten&#39;s et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,234,701 issued May 22, 2001. The Karten&#39;s et al., patent describes a binder formed of two cover portions made of rigid material joined together with a living hinge is disclosed. A closure flap with a second living hinge joins the free ends of the cover opposite the binder spine. An improved method of attaching a pocket to the binder is also disclosed. The use of such a technique on rigid polypropylene material allows roll feeding of materials, eliminates the need for a chipboard, allows existing printing and sealing machinery to be employed in the manufacture of the binder, and provides improved durability and aesthetics at a low cost. One cover portion may be adapted with number design features to properly align one cover portion relative to the other cover portion. A pocket formed of rigid material may also be coupled to one of the cover portions. 
     To the extent that the foregoing patents and citations are relevant to the present invention they are herein incorporated by reference. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention describes a folding article holder comprising: 
     a first supporting segment, for when in use, supporting at least a portion of an article, 
     a second supporting segment, for when in use, supporting at least a portion of the article; 
     a connecting region connecting said first supporting segment to said second supporting segment; and 
     at least one slidable frame piece having a length, a width, and a height, for when in use, engaging said first supporting segment and said second supporting segment in a fixed position. 
     The present invention further describes a folding article holder comprising: 
     a first supporting segment having a lengthwise dimension, heightwise dimension, and a widthwise dimension, for when in use, supporting at least a portion of an article; 
     said first supporting segment having a upper region and a lower region and further having an obverse side and a reverse side, and extending partially along the said widthwise dimension of said first supporting segment is at least one first supporting segment rib, 
     a second supporting segment having a lengthwise dimension, heightwise dimension, and a widthwise dimension, for when in use, supporting at least a portion of an article; 
     said second supporting segment having a upper region and a lower region and further having an obverse side and a reverse side, and extending partially along the said widthwise dimension of said second supporting segment is at least one second rib; 
     a connecting region for, when in use, flexibly connecting said first supporting segment to said second supporting segment; 
     a first slidable generally T-shaped frame piece having a base region, two side legs, and a void extending between the said two side legs; 
     said first slidable generally T-shaped frame piece having at least one lengthwise channel extending along the interior length of the said base region, for when in use, engaging the said first supporting segment rib, 
     a second slidable generally T-shaped frame piece having a base region, two side legs, and a void extending between the said two side legs; and 
     said second slidable generally T-shaped frame piece having at least one lengthwise channel extending along the interior length of the said base region, for when in use, engaging the said second rib supporting segment rib. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing and other features of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art to which the present invention relates upon consideration of the following description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a frontal perspective of a finished product embodiment according to the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view of a finished product embodiment according to the invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view taken along line  3 — 3  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view taken along line  3 — 3  of FIG. 1 with an interconnecting piece removed; and, 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective of the device of FIG. 1 in a closed folded position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As best seen in FIG. 1 is a folding article holder  10  according to the present invention. The folding article holder  10  is generally similar to a conventional paper holder or trapper keeper. 
     The folding article holder  10  has a first supporting segment  16  and a second supporting segment  18 . The first supporting segment  16  and the second supporting segment  18  are conveniently manufactured from a plastic such as polycarbonate or from cardboard covered with polyvinyl chloride. 
     The first supporting segment  16  is generally symmetrical in that the upper region  20  and the lower region  22  of the first supporting segment  16  are identical. The first supporting segment  16  is generally symmetrical in that the obverse side  24  of the first supporting segment  16  and the reverse side  26  of the first supporting segment  16  are also identical. 
     The second supporting segment  18  is conveniently manufactured to be identical in symmetry to the first supporting segment  16 . The identical nature of the first supporting segment  16  and second supporting segment  18  greatly aid in the manufacture of the folding article holder  10  and reduce the cost of the folding article holder  10 . 
     The second supporting segment  18  has an upper region  28  and the lower region  30 . The second supporting segment  18  has an obverse side  32  and the reverse side  34 . 
     It is noted, however, that the first supporting segment  16  and the second supporting segment  18  need not be identical. For instance, the folding article holder  10  may have a mechanism for holding loose papers (not shown). The folding article holder  10  may have a means for retaining a pad of paper on one side (the first supporting segment  16 ) and not the other side (the second supporting segment  18 ). 
     The first supporting segment  16  has a flange  40  substantially located on one side of its perimeter. The remaining two external sides of the perimeter of the first supporting segment  16  are defined by the upper region  20  and lower region  22 . The upper region  20  of the first supporting segment  16  has an upper rib  44 . The lower region  22  of the first supporting segment  16  has a lower rib  46 . The upper rib  44  and the lower rib  46  are parallel to one another. 
     A first recessed area  48  and a second recessed area  50  are located on the flange  40  on the one exterior side near the upper region  20  and lower region  22  of the first supporting segment  16  respectively. The first recessed area  48  and the second recessed area  50  are such that the flange  40  does not extend to the upper rib  44  and a lower rib  46 . 
     The first supporting segment  16  and the second supporting segment  18  are joined edge to edge by a hinge mechanism  52 . The hinge mechanism  52  is utilized to permit the first supporting segment  16  and the second supporting segment  18  to move relative to one another. The hinge mechanism  52  permits the folding of one of the first supporting segment  16  on top of the second supporting segment  18 . The hinge mechanism  52  is, for the sake of completeness, the fourth side of the first supporting segment  16 . 
     Conveniently, the first supporting segment  16  and the second supporting segment  18  are joined by means of a living hinge mechanism  52 . The use of the living hinge  52  permits the construction of the folding article holder  10  as a single piece. 
     The second supporting segment  18  has an upper rib  54  and a lower rib  56  located in the corresponding regions defined by the upper region  20  and lower region  22  of the first supporting segment  16 . The upper rib  54  and the lower rib  56  are parallel to one another. 
     A fastening mechanism  60 , as shown in FIG. 2, is utilized to permit a fixed folded closure of the first supporting segment  16  and the second supporting segment  18 . The fastening mechanism  60  is centrally located along the heightwise dimension H of the on the first supporting segment  16  is the fastening mechanism first part  64 . 
     On the second supporting segment  18  there is located the fastening mechanism second part  68 . The fastening mechanism  60  of choice is Velcro (utilizing a hook  64  and eye mechanism  68 ). In practice, virtually any fastening mechanism may be employed. For example, a hook closure may be utilized. 
     A raised stop button  80  is located in the upper region  28  of the second supporting segment  18 . The raised stop button  80  projects upward from the obverse side  32  of the second supporting segment  18 . That is, the raised stop button  80  rises above the plane of the second supporting segment  18 . 
     A second raised stop button  82  is located near the lower region  30  of the second supporting segment  18 . The second raised stop button  82  projects upward from the obverse side  32  of the second supporting segment  18 . The second raised stop button  82  is located approximately at a point one half of the width W of the second supporting segment  18 . 
     A first slidable frame piece  100  is shown in FIG.  1 . The slidable frame piece  100  is conveniently manufactured from a relatively rigid plastic such as polyvinyl chloride. The first slidable frame piece  100  may be extruded and cut into appropriate lengths. The length of the slidable frame piece should be slightly less than the width of the supporting segment  16  (and accordingly the width of the supporting segment  18 ). 
     As best seen in FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the first slidable frame piece  100  taken along lines  3 — 3  of FIG.  1 . The first slidable frame piece  100  is generally T-shaped and has a base  104 , a leg  110 , and a leg  112 . 
     As is shown in FIG. 4, the base  104  at least partially defines a centrally located void  118 . The centrally located void  118  extends along the length of the base of the first slidable frame piece  100 . 
     The leg  110  and the leg  112  each extend from the base of the first slidable frame piece  100 . The leg  110  and the leg  112  at least partially define a centrally located channel  124 . The void  124  communicates with the centrally located channel  118  in the first slidable frame piece  100 . The slidable frame piece  100  is utilized to retain the first supporting segment  16  and the second supporting segment  18  in a locked position. Thus, the interior dimensions of the void  124  are conveniently smaller than the upper rib  44  and a lower rib  46 . 
     The folding article holder  10  is assembled by inserting the first slidable frame piece  100  over the upper rib  44  and the lower rib  46  of the first supporting segment  16 . The upper rib  44  engages the void  124 . The centrally located channel  118  provides engages the obverse side  24  of the first supporting segment  16  and the reverse side  26  of the first supporting segment  16 . 
     The first slidable frame piece  100  thus engages the upper rib  44  and the lower rib  46  of the first supporting segment  16  and is snuggly seated in the base  104 . The first slidable frame piece  100  fills the void  124  in the base  104 . In this manner the first slidable frame piece  100  is secured to the folding article holder  10 . 
     In use the folding article holder  10  will normally be in a closed position as best seen in FIG.  5 . When a user of the folding article holder  10  desires to place an article thereon, the user will unfold the folding article holder  10  such that the first supporting segment  16  and the second supporting segment  18  are in the same plane. 
     The first slidable frame piece  100  is slid from its first position, as seen in FIG. 2, along the upper rib  44  and the lower rib  46  of the first supporting segment  16  and across the living hinge  52 . The movement of the first slidable frame piece  100  is continued onto the upper rib  54  and the lower rib  56  of the second supporting segment  18 . 
     The user will continue to slide the first slidable frame piece  100  along the upper rib  54  and the lower rib  56  of the second supporting segment  18  until the first slidable frame engages the first stop button  82  located on the second supporting segment  18 . 
     The folding article holder  10  is fully functional by utilizing the single first slidable frame piece  100 . However, to ensure that the folding article holder  10  is easily utilized the second slidable frame piece  200  is included in the construction. The second slidable frame piece  200  is attached to the first supporting segment  18  at the opposite end from the first slidable frame piece  100 . 
     A second slidable frame piece  200  may also be provided. The construction and dimensions of the second slidable frame piece  200  are identical to the first slidable frame piece  100 . 
     When the folding article holder  10  is equipped with a second slidable frame piece  200  the method of operation to engage the second slidable frame piece  200  on the first supporting segment  16  is similar to that for engaging the first slidable frame piece  100  on the first supporting segment  16 . In use, the second slidable frame piece  200  is similarly positioned up to the second stop button  82  on the second supporting segment  18 . 
     In the foregoing manner, one desiring to use the present invention effectively obtains a tabletop that may be spread out on the lap. A book or other article may be conveniently laid on the tabletop. The invention is particularly useful for males who do not have the same ability as females to use the legs as a lap.