A New or Improved Book-rest.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 21st May, 1894-Accepted, 23rd June, 1894
A New or Improved Book-rest.
I HENRY JOHNSON GLOVER, Agent of 78, East Hill; Colchester, Essex, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention relates to a new or improved book-rest, and has for its object to
provide a device for attachment to the person for the purpose of supporting a book
or paper in such a position that the book or paper can be easily read whilst the
hands of the person using such device are left entirely free, a further object being
to render the device useful for carrying a book when it desired to have the hands
free from impedimenta.
And in order that the said invention may be the more readily understood, I
have shewn same upon the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings wherein :
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device separate and Fig. 2 a side view shewing
the same in use.
Referring to the drawings, a are two wooden or other leaves hinged at a' so
that they can fold together, or be extended in the position shewn, which leaves a
are provided with cords b fastened respectively at one end to the front outer
corners and which pass through rings c and are then secured at their other
extremities.to the rear outer corners 62 of the folding-leaves a.
A strap d is secured to the ring c, the tongue of which strap passes through a
buckle d secured to the other ring c¹.
This strap d is intended to pass over the shoulders and behind the neck of the
person using the device, to support same in the desired position in front of such
individual as shewn in Fig. 2, the buckle allowing of the strap d being adjusted
to any desirable length.
e are two auxiliary leaves, pivoted at e¹ to the underside of the respective leaves a,
whereby such auxiliary leaves are capable of being turned upon their pivots so as
to extend beyond the front edges of the leaves a (Fig. 1) or be turned round so as
to lie beneath the latter as in Fig. 2.
The pivoted leaves e are provided for use when a larger surface than that of the
two leaves a is required to support a book or paper.
The leaves a can be adjusted at any desired angle, by sliding the rings e c¹ along
the cords 6 in either direction according as it is desired to raise or lower the said
Upon the underside of one of the leaves a I provide an elastic strap f secured at
each end to the said leaf, between which elastic strap and the leaf to which it is
affixed, the book or paper is held when being carried from place to place or under
similar circumstances.
When it is desired to carry the device, the leaves a are folded together, the
pivoted leaves e turned upon their pivots so as to lie along the said leaves a, the
book or paper is placed between the elastic strap and the leaf as before-
mentioned, and the adjustable strap d then passed around the shoulders of the
individual, thereby enabling the device to be carried in a similar fashion to that of
a pair of field-glasses.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
The new or improved book-rest, consisting of hinged-leaves having each pivoted
to their under-sides at one end, an auxiliary leaf, and cords each passing through a

page_text: ring and fastened to each end of said hinged leaves, and an adjustable strap and
buckle being secured to the said rings and an elastic strap to the under-side of one
leaf, substantially as and for the purpose specified and illustrated.
Dated this 21st day of May 1804
HUGHES & YOUNG,
12, Basinghall Street, London.