Abstract:
An apparatus for supporting a book or magazine for reading includes a bottom member and a top member. The top member is elevated at one end above the bottom member and is adapted to pivot from a first closed position for reading into a second open position for turning the pages. At least a portion of the top member is transparent to permit viewing of printed matter through the top member, which is adapted to press upon the book or magazine when it is disposed in the first position. A lip is attached to the bottom member and is used to further retain the book or magazine in position. A receiving member is optionally attached to a back of the bottom member and is used to attach either a leg or a handle thereto.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention, in general relates to devices that are used with a book and, more particularly, to devices that hold a book open for reading. 
     There is a long standing need to hold a book open for reading. As almost everyone is aware, the pages of a book tend to close of their own, due to forces that are imparted to the pages primarily by the binding. 
     As a result, the reader must deliberately maintain the pages in an open position. This can be, at times, inconvenient. At least one hand is generally required to maintain the pages open. 
     There is a need for a book holder to hold the pages open for use with either a hard cover type of a book, a paperback book, or a magazine. 
     Because the overall size (including the thickness) of the various books and magazines are extensive, it is desirable for a book holder to be able to accommodate the great variety of books and magazines that may be encountered. 
     If a prior type of a book holder has either complex members or other types of moving members to accommodate these different types and sizes of books and magazines, whatever members may be used to hold the pages of the book open will tend to obscure the printed material when these prior types of holders are used with still other types and sizes of books. 
     Therefore, there is a need to be able to accommodate different types and sizes of books and magazines so as to be able to hold the pages open while not obscuring the print that appears on any of the pages. 
     A similar problem mentioned briefly hereinabove and related to the size of the book that is being supported is that the thickness of the book (and binding) can prevent a book holder from properly closing (i.e., securing the pages in an open position) around the book for optimum reading comfort. Therefore, it may not properly accommodate the thickness of the book. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a book holder that is inexpensive to manufacture. 
     There is a further need for a book holder that is aesthetically pleasing in its appearance. 
     There is also a further need for book holder that includes a straight edge. This is useful to underline text, when desired. A person reading a text book, for example, may wish to “highlight” certain passages for future study. 
     Furthermore, there are times when it is desirable to rest the book on a bed or a desk or similar object without the reader having to physically hold it. It is desirable to be able to hold the pages in an open position at such times and also to permit rapid turning of the pages when necessary. 
     A book holder that includes a way to support the book holder on a bed, table, or other surface in the desired attitude and hold the pages open is preferred. However, when such support is not required, it is desirable to either fold or remove such support (for example, when transporting the book holder from place to place). 
     There are other times when it is desirable not to rest the book upon a surface but to be able to hold it with only one hand. However, the conventional hand posture for holding a book requires that part of the hand be used to maintain the pages in an open position while the rest of the hand is used to support the full weight of the book. For many readers, the hand must raise the book to a height that requires great strain to maintain and to support. Ideally, a book holder that includes a convenient hand-hold and which holds the pages open is desirable. 
     This is especially true if the hand-hold mechanism allows the reader to support the book with their hand at a lower position. Their hand could then even rest directly upon a surface. Then, the reader would primarily be required only to balance the book (rather than lift and to support its weight). 
     Accordingly, there exists today a need for a book holder that can ameliorate as many of these problems as is possible and do so at as low a cost as is possible. 
     Clearly, such an apparatus would be a useful and desirable device. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     Book holders are, in general, known. For example, the following patent describe various types of these devices: 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,109,658 to Moore, Aug. 29, 2000. 
     While the structural arrangements of the above described devices, at first appearance, have similarities with the present invention, they differ in material respects. These differences, which will be described in more detail hereinafter, are essential for the effective use of the invention and which admit of the advantages that are not available with the prior devices. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a book holder that is inexpensive to manufacture. 
     It is also an important object of the invention to provide a book holder that is adapted for use with a book. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a book holder that is adapted for use with a magazine. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide a book holder that is adapted for use with a hardcover type of a book. 
     Still yet another object of the invention is to provide a book holder that is adapted for use with a softcover type of a book. 
     Yet another important object of the invention is to provide a book holder that is adapted for placement directly upon a bed, desk, or other type of a surface. 
     Still yet another important object of the invention is to provide a book holder that is adapted for use with a handle (i.e., a hand-hold mechanism). 
     It is a first continuing object of the invention to provide a book holder that is adapted for use with a leg. 
     It is a second continuing object of the invention to provide a book holder that includes a leg that can be removed. 
     It is a third continuing object of the invention to provide a book holder that includes a handle (i.e., a hand-hold mechanism) that can be removed. 
     It is a fourth continuing object of the invention to provide a book holder that includes a handle (i.e., a hand-hold mechanism) that can be folded flat. 
     It is a fifth continuing object of the invention to provide a book holder that includes a leg that can be folded flat. 
     It is a sixth continuing object of the invention to provide a book holder that is adapted for use with various sizes of books and magazines. 
     It is a seventh continuing object of the invention to provide a book holder that is adapted to accommodate the thickness of the binding. 
     It is an eighth continuing object of the invention to provide a book holder that includes a member that covers a portion of the pages that is transparent. 
     It is an ninth continuing object of the invention to provide a book holder that includes a lip attached to a bottom member that is adapted to retain a book thereon. 
     It is an tenth continuing object of the invention to provide a book holder that can automatically adapt for use with books having a wide range of thickness&#39;. 
     Briefly, a book holder that is constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention has a planar bottom member upon which a book or a magazine is placed. A first end of a substantially planar top member is disposed a predetermined distance above a first end of the bottom member. The top member is adapted to pivot about an axis or plurality of axes that are disposed proximate the first end thereof. The top member is adapted to pivot with respect to the bottom member between a first closed position that is adapted for reading and a second open position that is adapted for turning a page or removing or inserting the book. At least a portion of the top member is transparent, through which a printed matter may be read. A lip is attached to a bottom edge of the bottom member and is used to retain the book thereon. A great many various shapes and styles are anticipated. According to a modification, a detachable leg is pivotally attachable to a receiving member that is attached to a back of the bottom member. The leg may be removed and a handle inserted into the receiving member to replace the leg. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a book holder with a top member (shown in two positions) above a bottom member and a book disposed therein. 
     FIG. 2 is a view in perspective of a leg and handle attached to a receiving member that is optionally attached to the back of the bottom member that is shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of the leg of FIG. 2, shown detached apart from the book holder. 
     FIG. 4 is a view in perspective of the handle of FIG. 2, shown detached apart from the book holder. 
     FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a first modified book holder. 
     FIG. 6 is a view as shown in FIG. 5 as seen along the lines  6 — 6  therein. 
     FIG. 7 is a is a top plan view of a second modified book holder. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to all of the FIGURE Drawings and in particular now to FIG. 1 is shown, a book holder, identified in general by the reference numeral  10 . 
     The book holder  10  includes a substantially planar bottom member  12 . 
     A raised lip  14  extends along a bottom edge of the bottom member  12  and is used to retain a book  16  in position. The book  16  (as shown) is intended to include any type of a hard or soft cover book or magazine. 
     A first end of the bottom member  12   a  includes a first member  18  that is attached to the bottom member  12  and which extends therefrom a predetermined distance. 
     A top member  20  is attached at a first end thereof  20   a  to the first member  18  at an end of the first member  18  that is disposed furthest away from the bottom member  12 . 
     The size and shape of the first member  18  are variables that are selected to match the particular design of the book holder  10 . 
     The first member  18  is preferably molded so as to be included as a unit that is formed integrally with both the bottom member  12  and the top member  20 . This provides a smoother appearance, one that affords optimum aesthetic appeal. 
     The top member  20  is adapted to pivot proximate the first end thereof  20   a  with respect to the bottom member  12  about at least one axis. Accordingly, a hinge (not shown) may be used intermediate the top member  20  and the bottom member  12 . 
     A preferable design is to utilize the elasticity that is inherent in the material that the top and bottom members  20 ,  12  are formed of to provide for the pivoting motion to occur. 
     Accordingly, the top member  20  preferably pivots about a plurality of axes that are in parallel longitudinal alignment with respect to each other and which are disposed intermediate the first end  12   a  of the bottom member  12  and the first end thereof  20   a  of the top member  20  (as well as throughout the entire height of the first member  18 ). 
     A slight flexing along the plurality of axes allows the top member  20  to be pivoted from a first closed position in which a second end thereof  20   b  that is opposite with respect to the first end thereof  20   a  is disposed proximate a second end  12   b  of the bottom member  12  into a second open position  20   c  (shown in dashed lines) in which the second end thereof  20   b  is disposed away from the bottom member  12  sufficient to allow the pages of the book  16  to be turned or for the book  16  to be either removed from or inserted in the book holder  10 . 
     When the top member  20  is disposed in the first closed position, it is noted that the second end thereof  20   b  is disposed slightly in from the second end  12   b  of the bottom member  12 . This allows a reader (not shown) to more easily separate the bottom member  12  apart from the top member  20  for pivoting the top member  20  into the second open position  20   c  . When the top member  20  is disposed in the first closed position, it presses upon the top of the book  16  and pinches the book intermediate the top member  20  and the bottom member  12 , thereby securing the book  16  in position. 
     The raised lip  14  is attached to a bottom edge of the bottom member  12  and it extends along the bottom edge for a predetermined distance. The lip  14  includes a substantially planar upright member  22  that is preferably molded as an integral part of the bottom member  12  and is disposed at an angle with respect to the bottom member  12 . Preferably, the angle is nearly ninety degrees (i.e., perpendicular). 
     The lip  14  prevents the book  16  from sliding out of the book holder  10  when a top of the book  16  is elevated with respect to a bottom of the book  16 . 
     Referring now in particular to FIG. 2, is shown a receiving member, identified in general by the reference numeral  24 , that is attached to a back of the bottom member  12 . The back is the side that is disposed opposite to where the book  16  is placed. 
     The receiving member  24  may be molded into the bottom member as a component part thereof or it may be added later as an aftermarket accessory (i.e., sold and applied with an adhesive, for example). 
     The receiving member  24  includes a substantially planar portion  26  that is elevated above the back surface of the bottom member  12 . 
     The planar portion  26  of the receiving member includes a “U-shaped” channel  28  that is formed therein. 
     A detachable leg  28  is inserted therein and is shown in an extended position (FIG. 2) where an arcuate end  30  is disposed away from the bottom member  12  and in a retracted position in which the arcuate end  30  is disposed proximate the bottom member  12 . 
     If desired, the arcuate end  30  may, of course, be eliminated to produce a modified type of a straight leg. The advantage of the arcuate end  30  is that when it is placed on a desk or other surface it well supports the book holder  10  and the book  16  at both a stable and at an optimum viewing angle. 
     When the arcuate end  30  is eliminated, the advantage is that it allows the modified leg to fold nearly flush with the back of the bottom member  12  thereby providing a smoother, flatter, and more compact device. 
     Accordingly, the leg  28  (either version) may be supplied with the book holder  10  or sold as an after market accessory, of which the reader may select the preferred type. 
     Referring now also to FIG. 3, the leg  28  includes a round T-member  32  that is disposed perpendicular with respect to the a longitudinal axis of the leg  28 . 
     The T-member  32  is adapted to fit intermediate the planar portion  26  and the back of the bottom member  12 . Because it is round, it permits the leg  28  to rotate intermediate the two positions shown in FIG.  2 . 
     Referring back to FIG.  2  and also to FIG. 4, is shown a handle, identified in general by the reference numeral  34 . 
     The handle  34  includes a flat member  36  of a predetermined length that includes an optional molded grip  38  at one end thereof. 
     The handle  34  includes a flat T-member  40  that is disposed perpendicular with respect to the a longitudinal axis of the flat member  36 . The flat T-member  40  fits snugly intermediate the planar portion  26  and the back of the bottom member  12 . Accordingly, the handle  34  cannot pivot away from the back of the bottom member  12  but rather is held flush against the back of the bottom member  12 . 
     By offering a plurality of the handles  34  for sale, each with a different longitudinal length, the reader is able to select the one that is preferred and which provides optimum reading comfort. 
     Both the handle  34  and the leg  28  are detachably-attachable with respect to the book holder  10 . They are each inserted by pushing either the round T-member  32  (of the leg  28 ) or the flat T-member  40  (of the handle  34 ) into the receiving member  24 , as desired and pulling the handle  34  or the leg  28  out, when desired. 
     Accordingly, either the handle  34  or the leg  28  may be used to replace the other or both may be eliminated, when desired. 
     Referring now to FIG.  5  and FIG. 6 is shown a first modified book holder  42  in which a first modified bottom member  44 , a first modified top member  46 , and a first modified first member  48  are used. 
     The first modified top member  46  is considerably smaller than the first modified bottom member. The first modified book holder  42  is used to illustrate some of the variety of form possible. 
     Referring now to FIG. 7, a second modified book holder  50  in which a second modified bottom member  52 , a second modified top member  54 , and a second modified first member  56  are used to further illustrate the variety possible. 
     The invention has been shown, described, and illustrated in substantial detail with reference to the presently preferred embodiment. It will be understood by those skilled in this art that other and further changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention which is defined by the claims appended hereto.