Improvements in a Book-holder or Reading-desk.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Nov., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 5th Aug., 1990-Accepted, 27th Sept.,
1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATIO:
Improvements in a Book-holder or Reading-desk.
CHARLES HENRY FOSTER 5 Gloucester Terrace Sussex Place S. W. London,
Bookseller, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in a bookholder in such a manner as to
combine portability, utility and cheapness.
The book holder is to be placed upon any table or desk for use in reading.
The bookholder consists of a back, of a prop to support the back at a proper incline,
and of a rocking pressor to hold the book open.
I forin the said back of wire bent into the form of an arc to the lower third of
which is attached a ledge, preferably of wood, for sustaining the book. The two free
ends of the arc are turned in two short horizontal coils into which fit the two free ends
of the rocking presser. The back is strengthened by two cross braces and is provided
with two eyes to which are swung the two free ends of the prop which holds the back
at a suitable incline when in use. The said prop consists of a piece of wire bent into
the form of a V and is attached as before stated, by its two free ends to the eyes in
the arc forming the back.
The rocking presser consists of wire, curved in such a manner as to have a bearing
upon the table and upon the front of the book, with its two free ends pivoted to the
said coils at base of the back and so adjusted as to sustain the weight of the book and
thereby make pressure on the front of the book.
Thind thin 7th day of November 1889.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in a Book-holder or Reading-desk.
I, CHARLES HENRY FOSTER of 5 Gloucester Terrace Sussex Place S.W. London
Middlesex, Bookseller, 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 improvements in a bookholder or reading desk in such a
manner as to combine portability, utility and cheapness.
These objects I accomplish by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accom-
panying drawing upon which are letters of reference. Similar letters of reference
being used in this description.
The bookholder is to be placed upon any table or desk for use in reading.
The bookholder consists of a back (b), of a prop (d) to support the back at a proper
incline and of a rocking presser (a) to hold the book open.
I form the back (6) of wire, bent into the form of an arc, to the lower third of
which is attached a ledge (e), preferably of wood for sustaining the book.
The two free ends of the arc are turned into a short horizontal coil (f) into which
fit the two free ends of the rocking presser (a).
The back is strengthened by two cross braces (c, c') and is provided with two eyes
to which are swung the two free ends of the prop (d) which holds the back at a
suitable incline when in use.
The said prop consists of a piece of wire bent into the form of a V and is attached
as before stated, by its two free ends to the oyes in the are forming the back.
The rocking presser (a) consists of wiro curved in such a manner as to have a
bearing upon the table and upon the front of the book, with its two free ends pivoted

page_text: to the said coils (f) at the base of the back and so adjusted as to sustain the weight
of the book and thereby make pressure on the front of the book.
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,
Claim I. In a bookholder or reading desk, a back in combination with a prop to
hold the back at a suitable incline when in use, with a ledge to sustain the book and
with a rocking presser.
Claim II. In a bookholder or reading desk a prop in combination with the back
and rocking presser.
Claim III. In a bookholder or reading desk a rocking presser in combination with
a back provided with a ledge and prop substantially as herein described and according
to the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 5th day of August 1890.