Abstract:
A book holder removably attachable to a vehicle or structure such as a stroller, walker, wheelchair or car seat for mobile applications. The book holder for holding a book or drawing surface in a usable position thereon for by the occupant of the vehicle. The book holder comprising an adjustable clasp on the vehicle, an arm extending to a book platform, the arm providing rotational pivotal and axial adjustment to hold the platform in spaced relation to the clasp. A plurality of spring biased clamps on the platform to secure the book to the book holder.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to a removable book holder assembly for use by a person in a protective or mobile structure such as a car seat, wheelchair, walker, or stroller. The Book holder having an adjustable, releasable clipping means and a support arm configured for axial, rotational and pivotal adjustment of the book supporting surface of the book holder to hold a book in a readable position in front of the user. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   The prior art of book holders comprises a variety of devices for supporting a book on a platform in a position for viewing or reading. A conventional book holder includes a supporting structure for supporting the book support on a table. The platform is supported by a table or other such flat structure as seen in the Michela U.S. Pat. No. 5,755,423 for a FOLDING PORTABLE SUPPORT STAND, wherein a device is disclosed comprising hinged covers folding into a support structure for holding a booking the open position on a flat horizontal surface. 
   The prior art also discloses structures built around the person to hold a book in useful relation such as the ADJUSTABLE BOOK HOLDER in U.S. Pat. No. 6,202,973 to Navarin et al. In the &#39;973 patent a structure is disclosed for holding a book in a readable position on a structure attachable to the reader&#39;s torso. The Weeks U.S. Pat. No. 3,497,882 for SUPPORT MECHANISM FOR SUPPORTING VARIOUS DEVICES TO BE EMPLOYED IN COOPERATION WITH A HOSPITAL BED likewise discloses a support structure disposed over the bed and a book holder slidably mounted on the support structure for holding the book in reading position while the reader is lying in bed. 
   The Wiersma U.S. Pat. No. 4,201,013 for a BOOK HOLDING DEVICE discloses a detachable device for use on a bed to suspend a book holder from over the reader&#39;s head. The Wiersma device is clamped to a headboard of a bed using C-clamps. 
   The book holders disclosed in the prior art suffer from a number of disadvantages. In particular, such book holders include do not provide an adequate solution for young children or mobility limited adults. These people spend a significant amount of their time outdoors (e.g., parks, beaches, playground, theme parks, etc) and conventional book holders are primarily designed for indoor use. The book holders in the prior art lack the ease of application to a mobile vehicle such as a wheelchair or stroller to allow the reader to have mobility to explore their environment in a stationary sitting or reclining position while reading a book supported on the mobile vehicle. As a result, the learning benefits are significantly reduced. 
   The prior art does not accommodate easy and quick attaching the book support onto a structure for mobile use. Thus there is a need for an improved Book Holder that is quickly and easily clipped to a mobile vehicle such as a wheelchair or stroller for holding the book in a reading position in spaced relation to the clip. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a book holder that can be easily and remvoably attached to and removed from a bar or portion of the mobile vehicle without tools. 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable clasp for attaching the book holder to the mobile vehicle to easily and quickly attach or detach the book holder. 
   It is further object of the present invention to provide an arm between the clasp and the book support platform to hold the book in spaced relation from the clip. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a pivotal attachment between the clasp and the support platform to hold the book on the support platform at a selected angle with respect to the reader for ease of viewing. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a telescoping arm between the clasp and the book support platform to axially adjust the position of the support platform with respect to the clasp to position the platform in a position for ease of viewing by the reader. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a book holder having an elongate arm with a rotational adjustment to rotate the position of the support platform with respect to the clasp to a position for ease of viewing by the reader. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a clasp comprising a clip having an adjustable, resilient arm for removably attaching to a mounting structure on the mobile vehicle. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a locking means on the book holder to retain the rotational, pivotal and axial position of the support platform with respect to the clasp. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a support platform adaptable for use as a writing board. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a connector means for remvoably securing a book to the book holder in a reading position. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a book holder showing a first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a book holder according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded view of a book holder illustrating the square telescoping arm; 
       FIG. 4  is a side perspective view of the book holder of  FIG. 1  illustrating an alternative clip arrangement; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view an adjustable clip; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a book clamp. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a clip arm. 
       FIG. 8  is a elevation view of a plurality of clip arms from  FIG. 7  on the clasp for releasable attachment of the book holder to a mobile vehicle. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to  FIG. 1  there is illustrated a book holder assembly  10  according to the first embodiment of present invention. The book holder  10  comprises a book platform  12  and an adjustable arm  14  and a clasp  15 . The book platform  12  includes a generally planar panel  16  having a front  18  and a rear surface  20 . The front surface  18  is configured to hold a book or suitable for use as a writing/drawing board (eg a white-board, a blackboard, an electronic board). The rear surface  20  of the book platform  12  is attached to the adjustable support arm  14  at angle suitable for reading. The book platform  12  can be integrally formed with the support arm  14  such that the support arm  14  forms a portion of the book support protrudes from the rear surface  20  of the panel  16 . Preferably, though the supporting arm  14  and the book platform  12  are provided as separate items to be assembled by the user. 
   Mounted to the front surface  18  of panel  16  are two pairs of spring biased book clamps  22  for securing a book (not shown) to the book holder  10 . The first pair of spring biased book clamps  22   a ,  22   b  is located near the top edge  24 . The second pair of spring biased book clamps  22   c ,  22   d  is located near the bottom edge  26 . 
   Continuing to refer to  FIG. 1  the panel  16  may be made of plastic and the book clamps  22  made of steel covered by plastic. However, other materials such as wood, metal, etc, and combination thereof may be used in the manufacturing of the book holder assembly  10 . 
   The arm  14  comprises a first end  23  and second end  25 . The clasp  15  is on the first end  23 . The second end  25  is a spaced from the first end  23 . The second end  25  is adjustably attached to the book platform  12 . The arm  14  includes a telescoping arrangement  32  in which an upper support portion  34  of the support arm  14  slides within a lower support portion  36  and is held at a selected position by a locking member  55  ( FIG. 2 ). The lower support portion  36  of the support arm  14  is attached to the clasp  15 . The clasp  15  comprises one or more clips  40  for removeably attaching the book holder  10  to the mobile vehicle (not shown). 
   The clips  40  are adjustable in shape and size to fit the shape and size of the supporting frame member on the mobile vehicle (not shown). The clips  40  comprise a pair of resilient C-shaped clip arms  42  adjustably attached to the clip  40 . The first clip arm  42   a  is spaced from the second clip arm  42   b  in order to tightly retain the supporting frame member of the mobile vehicle (not shown) therebetween. To secure the book holder  10 , the user forces the clip arms  42   a  and  42   b  apart to allow the frame member to slip between the clip arms  42   a ,  42   b . The clip arms  42   a ,  42   b  then snap resiliently together to hold the book holder  10  to the frame member (not shown) of the mobile vehicle (not shown). 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , the book holder  210  comprises a book support platform  212 , a generally planar panel  216 , a support arm  214  and a dual clasp  215 . The support arm  214  comprises a support member  50  extending from the middle section of the panel  216 , an elongate arm  52  and an adjustable angle mount  54 . The angle mount  54  connects the support member  50  to the elongate arm  52  to hold the panel  216  in spaced relation to the clasp  215 . The angle mount  54  comprises locking member  55  to hold the panel  216  and clasp  215  in the user selected position. The angle mount  54  allows the panel  216  to be adjusted both axially and rotationally with respect to the clasp  215 . The book support  212  may be pivotally mounted ( FIG. 4 ) to the support member  50  to allow the panel  216  to be pivoted with respect to the support member  50 . 
   Continuing to refer to  FIG. 2 , the dual clasp  215  comprises a clip bar  238  and a pair of clips  240  attached to the clip bar  238 . The clips  240  are spaced from each other to provide a secure attachment to the mobile vehicle (not shown). As a result, the book holder  210  of  FIG. 2  is adjustable for height and rotation and pivotal angle with respect to the clasp  215 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 3  an alternative support arm  314  comprises concentrically mounted, square tube members  60 ,  62 . The open box-shaped male member  60  is adapted to attach to a book support platform ( 12 ,  FIG. 1 ) on one end and slidably insert into member  62  with the other end. The male member  60  is adapted for separable, concentric interconnection with the female member  62  to form a telescoping arrangement for axial adjustment of the spaced relational distance between the book support  312  and the female member  62 . The male member  60  comprises a front portion  64   a , a back portion  66   a , a pair of side portions  68   a  and  70   a , a lower portion  72   a , and a top  74   a . The side portions  68   a  and  70   a  of the male member  60  have holes  80   a  formed in a pattern therein. The top  74   a  is adapted to attach to the book support ( 12 ,  FIG. 1 ). The female member  62  comprises a front portion  66   b , a back portion  66   b , a pair of side portions  68   b  and  70   b , a lower portion  72   b , and an open top  74   b . The side portions  64   b  and  66   b  of the male member  62  have holes  80   b  formed therein for concentric alignment with the holes  80   a  in the male member  60 . The lower portion  72   b  is adapted to attach to the clasp  15 . The male member  60  fits slidably into the female member  62  such that at least one hole  80   a  in the side wall  64   a  of male member  60  is concentrically aligned with a hole  80   b  in the adjacent side wall  64   b  of the female member  62  at a predetermined position to axially space the clasp  15  from the book support ( 12 ,  FIG. 1 ). The user then fixes the male member  60  to the female member  62  by connector means (not shown). 
     FIG. 4  illustrates a book holder  410  comprising a book support  412  and a support arm  414 . The support arm  414  comprises a clasp  15 , a lower section  73  and an upper section  75 . The clasp  15  comprises an adjustable clip  70  mounted on the lower section  73 . The adjustable clip  70  is rotatable with respect to the arm  414  to removably attach the book holder  410  to a vertical or horizontal object (eg, a pole) (not shown) on the mobile vehicle. The arm connector  415  rotateably and slidably attaches the lower section  73  of the supporting arm  414  to the upper section  75 . the upper section  75  has pivotal connector  420  ( FIG. 4 ) on the book support  412 . The clip  70  has adjustable clip arms  74   a ,  74   b  to allow different sizes of objects to be attached to the book holder  410 . The position of the clip arms  74   a ,  74   b  along the clip body  78  can be selectively fixed by a screw  415 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 5 , the clasp  15  includes a clip body  101 and a pair of clips arms  74   a ,  74   b  extending from the clip body  101 . The clip  70  comprises a clip head  79  having a plurality of holes  77  fastener. The clip arms  74   a ,  74   b  are mounted on the clip head  79  in spaced relation to securely and removably attach the book holder  410  ( FIG. 4 ) to the mobile vehicle (not shown). The body  101  of the clip  70  may have a plurality of holes  91  formed therein in spaced relation to each other for adjustable connection of the clip  70  to the arm  414  ( FIG. 4 ). Each clip arm is attached to the clip body in one of several selectable positions along said clip body. Preferably, the clip  70  includes a clip body  101  on the arm  414 , a clip head  79  on the clip body  101  and a plurality of clip arms  74   a ,  74   b  removably attached to the clip head  79 . A screw  415  orother fastener is remvoably attached to the clip head  79  for selectively fixing the position of said clip arm along said clip body. The clip means may alternatively be a spring clip or include at least one resilient clip arm. 
   Referring to  FIG. 6  the head  79  is shown with two sets of clip arms  74   a ,  74   b  Each clip arm  74   a  and  74   b  is attached by fastener  81  which may be removable such as a screw. The arms  74  are thereby adjustably spaced from each other to adapt to resiliently clasping onto a mounting portion of the mobile vehicle (not shown). 
   referring to  FIG. 7  a clip arm  74  is shown comprising a flex section  103 , a base  102  and a tip  107 . The base  102  has one or more holes  109  formed therein for aligning with a hole on the clip head  79  to accommodate attaching the clip arm  74   a  to the clip head  79  by screw, rivet or other mechanical fastener  81 . The clip arms  74   a ,  74   b  are attached to the clip head  79  in a C relation ( FIG. 6 ) to form adjustable clasp  15 . The flex section  103  allows the tip  107  to deflect from its rest position to accommodate the portion of the vehicle to be attached to be disposed between the clip arms  74   a ,  74   b . The resilient material of the lip arms  74   a ,  74   b  urges the tip  107  back to the rest position causing the clip arm  74   a ,  74   b  to bear against the vehicle to removably attach the book holder  10  to the vehicle (not shown). Tip  107  may also have holes  109  formed therein for alternate configurations on head  79  ( FIG. 6 ) or alternate attachment methods. 
   Referring to  FIG. 8 , a book clamp  22  comprising a body  108 , a spring  120  and a slidable grip  122 . The slidable grip  122  is slidably mounted to the body  108 . The spring  120  has a first end  124  on the body  108  and a second end  126  on the grip  122  to urge the grip in the clamped position  127 . The book clamp  22  is mounted to the panel  16  having the grip  122  extending from the front surface  18  for engaging a book or other device to be retained on the book holder  10 . The spring  129  and slidable attachment between the grip  122  and the clamp body  108  allow the grip to be moved into position to engage the book with the finger portion  128  of the grip  122 . The spring  120  bears against the grip  122  to hold the book against the front surface  18  thereby securing the book (not shown) to the book holder  10 . 
   In use, the book holder  10  is attached to the vehicle (not shown) by use of the clasp  15 . The clasp  15  is rotationally adjusted on the support structure on the vehicle to begin the book holder  10  adjustment to a usable position. The telescoping mechanism in the arm  14  is used to axially adjust the spacing between the clasp  15  and the support platform  12 . The rotational coupling between the first end of the arm  14  and the second end of the arm is used to rotate the support platform around the axis of the arm  14  to an operable position. Lastely, the pivotal connection  420  ( FIG. 4 ) between the arm  14  and the support platform  12 . 
   The book platform  12  may also be used to support such items as audio/video equipment, PDAs, or mobile phones, cameras, computers, musical instruments, toys, puzzles and games. The panel  16  may be provided with a set of mounting positions for receiving and/or mounting the above items (NOT SHOWN). 
   Although the invention has been described above in connection with particular embodiments and examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention is not necessarily so limited, and that numerous other embodiments, examples, uses, modifications and departures from the embodiments, examples and uses are intended to be encompassed by the claims attached hereto. The entire disclosure of each patent and publication cited herein is incorporated by reference, as if each such patent or publication were individually incorporated by reference herein.