Abstract:
A foldable book stand for viewing written materials, music and the like or for writing upon same, the stand is further fitted with a battery powered lamp. The preferred embodiment measures about 4 inches square in folded state. The stand is fitted with articulation joints that hold it in the desired shape through tension and friction. The stand is further fitted with brackets for supporting materials and bracket tabs for holding pages in place.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates specifically to stands and holders for books, music, or other types of self-contained articles or objects for viewing. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   While many and varied stands are available for viewing books, music and the like, most address only some of the needs of personal document support or illumination. A device is needed which not only supports materials to be viewed, but also keeps items on a particular chosen page and illuminates the items only, and not a surrounding area. Further, such a device better serves if it is collapsible so that it can be stored compactly when not in use. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
   Holders for items and documents to be viewed include a variety of devices for temporarily securing and illuminating the articles. None, however, offer the particular advantages of the present invention. By way of example: 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,127,253 issued to Ben-Lea on Nov. 28, 1978 discloses a holder for books and music and the like, the holder comprising a stand with spring-loaded mechanism for holding objects at their lower edge. The device&#39;s primary objective to clamp pages securely, such as music pages, differs from the wide-range intent of the present invention, as does the overall design. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 3,127,114 issued to Shaw on Mar. 31, 1964 discloses a lighted book stand for use with or as a music rack, bookstand, or easel. The device focuses on attachment to an existing structure, thereby affording an adjustable plane of light source for viewing said articles. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,353 issued to Menaged on Jun. 18, 1991 discloses a freestanding device for securing articles to be viewed, and a light source for their viewing. The design, appearance and function are unlike the present invention. 
   While the above-described devices fulfill their respective and particular objects and requirements, they do not describe an improved book stand that provides for the advantages of the present invention. Therefore, a need exists for an improved book stand, particularly one that includes the foldable compactness, utility, and battery powered personal light of the improved book stand. In this respect, the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of book stands now present in the prior art, the improved book stand overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and drawbacks or the prior art. As such, the general purpose of the book stand, described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a book stand which has all of the advantages of the prior art mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in an improved book stand which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by the prior art, either alone or in combination thereof. 
   To accomplish this, the book stand is comprised of a foldable shape, which when folded is planar, substantially flat and compact. When folded, or collapsed, the book stand is about 4 inches square, in one embodiment. When fully unfolded the book stand is about 12 inches in length and 4 inches wide with an angled surface for holding books, music or other items for viewing. Supporting legs are therefore about 4 inches long. Further, in this embodiment, there are three columns per side that unfold from the collapsed dimension of about 4 inches to a supporting length of about 12 inches. An alternate embodiment has only two columns per side, each column of about 6 inches and legs about 6 inches long such that the collapsed dimensional length is about 6 inches and the unfolded supporting length about 12 inches. This embodiment is also about 4 inches wide and therefore forms a substantially flat rectangle when folded. 
   A pivotal light resides in the top center position of the book stand. The light not only articulates for height above the viewed materials, but also has a pivoting lamp shade for further light control. Light is provided by a battery lit lamp. Two AAA replaceable batteries provide power. The book stand is therefore suited to lighting only what is to be viewed, and not surrounding areas. The book stand is therefore used for personal viewing and is not a distraction to others. The book stand may be rested upon any desired surface. And, the legs are fitted with pads for cushioning the stand relative to that surface and for holding the stand in position by way of friction. Further, the preferred embodiment also features pads on the lower transverse that perform the same function as those on the legs. 
   Articulation joints of the book stand are fitted with pivots that tensionally and frictionally maintain the desired shape of the stand, whether folded or unfolded, until a user wishes to change that shape. Preferred construction is plastic, although other embodiments of the book stand are constructed of wood and other suitable materials. In the preferred plastic construction, the book stand offers the least expensive and most portable embodiment. The book stand also provides materials support brackets for holding materials to be viewed, and the brackets further contain tabs for holding pages to the positions desired. 
   By affording hands-free viewing and locatable light, the book stand eases eye strain as well as fatigue that might be experienced when having to hold materials. The small, personal lamp provides no intrusion to others. Military barracks situations, for example, provide an ideal example of the book stand&#39;s use. Reading or viewing materials without offending others by turning on lights is advantageous. Also, the small lamp does not build up heat. The book stand may also be offered with bookmarks included. As the stand folds into such small shapes, it is easily transported and stored. 
   Thus has been broadly outlined the more important features of the book stand so that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. 
   Numerous objects, features and advantages of the book stand will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the book stand when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In this respect, before explaining the current embodiments of the book stand in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustration. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
   Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the book stand. It is therefore important that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
   An object, then, of the book stand is to provide a stand that includes an articulating, battery powered light that is not obtrusive to surrounding areas or people. 
   It is an additional object of the book stand to provide hands-free support of materials to be viewed. 
   An added object of the book stand is to provide a stand that can be folded into a small substantially flat shape when not in use. 
   Additionally, it is an object of the book stand to be manufactured in more than one embodiment, the varied embodiments differing in the number and length of their columns. 
   These together with additional objects of the book stand, along with various novel features that characterize the invention are particularly pointed out in the claims forming a part of this disclosure. For better understanding of the book stand, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, refer to the accompanying drawings and description. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the book stand. 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the book stand. 
       FIG. 3  is a top view of the book stand in the folded state. 
       FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of an articulation joint of the book stand. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   With reference now to the drawings, and in particular  FIGS. 1 through 4  thereof, the preferred embodiment of the book stand employing the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference number  10  will be described. 
   Book stand  10  comprises a foldable assembly further comprised of right support leg  17  and left support leg  18 . Legs  17  and  18  are about 4 inches long. At lower ends of legs  17  and  18  are fitted leg pads  30 , for cushioning and position retention by surface friction. Upper ends of support legs  17  and  18  are affixed by friction pivots  40  to tops of inverted L members  23  and thereby form articulation joints  16 . Right L member  23  is comprised of right transverse  19  and right column  22 . Left L member  23  is comprised of left transverse  20  and left column  21 . Articulation joint  16  of leg  17  and right L member  23  is positioned at the uppermost interior end of leg  17  contacting the outer surface of right L member  23  where right transverse  19  meets right column  22 . Articulation joint  16  of leg  18  and left L member  23  is positioned at the uppermost interior end of leg  18  contacting the outer surface of left L member  23  where left transverse  20  meets left column  21 . Midway between left and right L members  23  is pivoting T member  15  of lamp support arm  14 . 
   T member  15  on one end of arm  14  is attached by friction pivot  40  to interior-most surfaces of transverse  19  and transverse  20 . The dimension from exterior surface of leg  17  through transverse  19 , then T member  15 , thence through transverse  20 , and to the exterior of leg  18  is about 4 inches. 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , other end of arm  14  supports lamp  50  via lamp pivot  56 . Pivot  56  provides for lamp  50  to pivot about arm  14  throughout an arc  57  of about 45 degrees ( FIG. 2 ). Lamp  50  is further comprised of shade top  55  that contains, rectangularly disposed in the center, battery access  51 . Angling slightly forward and downward from top  55  is forward shade  52 . Opposite shade  52 , rear shade  53  angles slightly outward and downward from top  55 . Shades  52  and  63  are laterally connected by trapezoidal side shades  54 . Top  55 , forward shade  52 , rear shade  53 , and side shades  54  thereby form lamp shade  58 . 
   Referring again to  FIG. 1 , book stand  10  is further comprised of right center column  24  and left center column  25 . Uppermost outer surface of column  24  pivotally attaches to lower inner surface of right column  22  of right L member  23  by way of articulation joint  16  ( FIGS. 2 and 4 ). Interior surface of lower end of right column  24  pivotally attaches to upper exterior surface of right lower U column  26  via pivot  40  of articulation joint  16 . From thence right lower U column  26  extends downward to join to lower transverse  28 , forming a right angle therewith. Transverse  28  extends laterally to meet, at an opposing right angle, left lower U column  27 . From thence, column  27  extends upwardly to meet on upper and outer exterior surface, lower interior surface of left center column  25 . Columns  27  and  25  join at articulation joint  16  via pivot  40 . 
   Column  25  is a mirror image of column  24 . Upper exterior surface of column  25  joins lower interior surface of column  21  at joint  16  by pivot  40 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , right column  22 , angularly extends from first articulation angle  31  downward to meet right center column  24 . Column  22  and column  24  pivotally meet to form second articulation angle  32 . Column  24  extends downwardly to meet right lower U column  26  and joins to form, in the unfolded extended state of invention  10 , third articulation angle  33 . Angles  32  and  33  are, in invention  10  extended state, 180 degrees. Columns  22 ,  24  and  26  are thereby coplanar. Likewise, left column  21  joins left center column  25 , and column  25  joins left lower U column  27  to also be coplanar to themselves and to columns  22 ,  24 , and  26 . The angular upwardly facing platform thereby formed from columns  21 ,  25 ,  27 ,  26 ,  24 , and  22  provides a surface for resting books (not shown), music (not shown), or any other material chosen for viewing (not shown) or even for writing upon. Materials support brackets  35  are upwardly and forwardly disposed from the lower ends of columns  26  and  27  to support chosen materials. Further, bracket tabs  36  hold pages of materials open to pages chosen by a user (not shown). 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , articulation joint  16  is comprised of pivotal joining of interior end surface of right transverse  19  to exterior right end surface of T member  15 . Pivot  40  tensionally and frictionally maintains pivotal positions of transverse  19  and member  15 . Within insert orifice  48  of transverse  19  is fitted insert  41 . Exterior end surface of T member  15  is constructed with insert recession  46  designed to receive insert flange  47  of insert  41 . 
   Insert shoulder  42  of insert  41  is designed to receive expansion nodule  43  on one end of shaft  45  of pin  49 . On opposite end of shaft  45  of pin  49  is head  44 . Head  44  is held snugly against end of T member  29 . Pivot  40  thereby securely retains chosen positioning of articulation joints  16  by way of tension and friction. 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , invention  10  is in a folded, or collapsed, state. Invention  10  is thereby a substantially planar square of about 4 inches per side. Right support leg  17  is identical in length to outer surface of right column  22 . Inner surface of column  22  is equal in length to column  24 . Column  24  is equal in length to outer surface of right lower U column  26 . Likewise, leg  18  is identical in length to outer surface of left column  21 . Inner surface of column  21  is equal in length to left center column  25 . Center column  25  is identical in length to outer surface of left lower U column  27 . Articulation joints  16  of T member  15  and corresponding transverses  19  and  20  provide for pivot of member  15  and hence arm  14 . This provides not only for adjustment but also the subsequent fit of lamp  50  within the interior surfaces of columns  26  and  27  when stand  10  is folded. Lamp pivot  56  provides for lower edges of shades  52  and  53  to pivot to preferred position. These pivotal features therefore also provide that invention  10  is selectively substantially flat for transport or storage. 
   For use, legs  17  and  18  are pivoted about L members  23  to form angle  31 . Columns  24  and  25  are pivoted from columns  22  and  21  to form angle  32  of 180 degrees. Lower transverse  28  is grasped and unfolded pivotally to form angle  33  of 180 degrees and to position columns  26  and  27  coplanar to columns  24  and  25 . Combined length of unfolded columns  22 ,  24 , and  26  is about 12 inches. Combined length of columns  21 ,  25 , and  27  is about 12 inches. Arm  14  is pivoted to position as desired. Lamp  50  is pivoted about arc  57  via lamp pivot  56 . Battery access  51  is removed from shade top  55  to install two AAA batteries (not shown) within lamp  50 . Access  51  is then refitted. Lamp switch  59  is twisted to turn on lamp  50 . 
   Desired materials are placed upon upper surface of columns  21 ,  22 ,  24 ,  25 ,  26 , and  27 . Materials are restrained by materials support bracket  35  and bracket tabs  36  such that any pages (not shown) remain open as placed. Invention  10  may be rested on any desired surface (not shown). Cessation of use of invention  10  provides for reversal of the above procedure such that invention  10  is returned to substantially flat profile for transport or storage. 
   With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the book stand, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and the manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
   Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.