Abstract:
This invention relates to a cookbook which can be positioned on a support surface. The cookbook is made of three sidewalls which form a generally triangular formation which can stand on the support surface. A plurality of sheets containing food recipe data are positioned to overlie one of the sidewalls.

Description:
FIELD  
         [0001]    This invention relates generally to cookbooks, and more specifically to a cookbook easel that can stand on a surface and display food recipe data.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    Cookbooks are typically displayed horizontally upon a surface, such as a kitchen counter. Problems arise when a cook wishes to refer to a food recipe while he or she is cooking. Because traditional cookbooks lie flat horizontally on a surface, a user cannot easily see a recipe in the book without standing very close to it and by looking down or propping it up. Problems also arise in storing and transporting traditional cookbooks when the user is finished referring to them. Traditional cookbooks are often bulky, making them difficult to store and difficult to move around. Thus, a cookbook apparatus which can stand on a surface to allow a cook to easily refer to recipe data which can be easily stored and transported would be advantageous to the culinary world.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0003]    This invention involves a cookbook apparatus which can be positioned in a generally triangular fashion on a support surface, such as a kitchen counter. The cookbook is comprised of at least three sidewalls, with one of the sidewalls forming a base which can be positioned on the support surface, and two opposing sidewalls positioned on opposing sides of the base. Each opposing sidewall is connected to the base by a hinge. The base itself contains a hinge positioned parallel to the opposing sidewalls which allows the adjustment distance between the hinges which connect the opposing sidewalls. Sheets with food recipes are positioned to overlie one another on the surface of one of the sidewalls, allowing the user to easily view the recipes. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0004]    The qualities and advantages of the Cookbook Easel Apparatus disclosed in the present invention will be readily apparent if the following detailed description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.  
         [0005]    [0005]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one example of a cookbook easel apparatus made in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the cookbook easel apparatus of FIG. 1.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 3 is an underneath perspective view of the cookbook easel apparatus of FIG. 1.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 4 is a frontal perspective view of the cookbook easel apparatus of FIG. 1.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 5 is a side perspective of the cookbook easel apparatus of FIG. 1.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 6 is a frontal perspective view of cookbook recipe sheets enclosed in the cookbook easel apparatus of FIG. 1.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 7 illustrates a hinge which allows the adjustment of distance between opposing sidewalls in the cookbook easel apparatus of FIG. 1.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]    A detailed description of one example of a cookbook easel apparatus is now provided for explanatory purposes.  
         [0013]    Referring to FIG. 1, a cookbook easel apparatus  10  is capable of being positioned in a generally triangular formation on a support surface  12 . The cookbook easel in one example comprises at least three sidewalls  14 , a hinge  16 , and one or more overlying sheets  18 .  
         [0014]    One of the sidewalls  14  forms base  20 . Base  20  is capable of being positioned on support surface  12 . Two opposing sidewalls  22 ,  24  are positioned on opposite sides of base  20 . Opposing sidewalls  22 ,  24  are connected to base  20  by hinges  26 ,  28 . Hinges  26 ,  28  in one example are connected integrally to base  20  and to opposing sidewalls  22 , 24 . All three sidewalls can be made from a number of different materials, including, but not limited to, cardboard and molded plastic.  
         [0015]    Referring further to FIG. 1, base  20  includes hinge  30 . Hinge  30  allows for the adjustment of a distance between hinges  26 ,  28 , which connect base  20  to opposing sidewalls  22 ,  24 .  
         [0016]    Still referring to FIG. 1, hinge  16  in one example comprises at least one ring member  32 . Hinge  16  engages and connects top portions  34  of opposing sidewalls  22 ,  24  to each other. Hinge  16  also engages and connects sheets  18  to opposing sidewalls  22 ,  24 .  
         [0017]    Sheets  18  in one example contain food recipe data. Sheets  18  are positioned to overlie another on a surface of one of the opposing sidewalls  22 ,  24 . Hinge  16  in one example can open and close, so that one or more of sheets  18  can be added or removed from easel  10 .  
         [0018]    Referring to FIG. 2, the top portions  34  of opposing sidewalls  22 ,  24  in one example have one or more holes  36 . Holes  36  can be circular, rectangular or a variety of other shapes. Holes  36  engage ring member  32  which connects the opposing sidewalls  22 ,  24 . Ring member  32  in one example is a spiral binding. However, other materials can be used to connect opposing sidewalls  22 , 24 , including but not limited to, clips or perforated binding elements.  
         [0019]    Referring to FIG. 3, base  20  contains hinge  30  which is positioned generally parallel to the two opposing sidewalls  22 ,  24 . Hinge  30  extends in one example across the width of base  20  and divides base  20  into two sections  38 , 40  which in the present example are equal in area although they could be unequal in area. Hinge  30  can be adjusted to change the distance between hinges  26 ,  28 , as is further discussed below.  
         [0020]    Referring to FIG. 4, in one example the surface of opposing sidewall  24  has a greater dimension than that of sheets  18 . However, sheets  18  can also have a dimension equal or greater than the dimension of the opposing sidewall  24 .  
         [0021]    Referring to FIG. 6, sheets  18  contain food recipe data which the user refers to while cooking. Sheets  18  in one example have one or more holes  38  to engage at least one ring member  32 . Sheets  18  can have food recipe data on one or both sides of the sheet. Sheets  18  in one example are made from paper, although other materials such as plastic may be used.  
         [0022]    Referring to FIGS. 5 and 7, the distance between hinges  26 ,  28  can be adjusted by manipulating hinge  30 . When hinge  30  lies flat on support surface  12 , the hinges  26 , 28  are at a maximum distance apart and an angle is formed between the opposing sidewalls  22 , 24  and sections  38 ,  40  respectively. However, if the user raises hinge  30 , the distance between the hinges  26 , 28  connecting opposing sidewalls  22 ,  24  decreases, and a more acute angle is formed between the opposing sidewalls and sections  38 ,  40 . This feature is useful because it enables a user to vary the angle of the food recipe data display according to his/her viewing preferences. As a result, the user is able to refer to the food recipe data easily. This feature is also useful because when the distance between the hinges  26 , 28  connecting the opposing sidewalls is decreased, a user can operate the cookbook apparatus using only a small amount of surface area. Furthermore, this feature also allows a user to easily collapse and store the cookbook.