A New or Improved Adjustable Book Rest.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 11th July, 1895-Accepted, 17th Aug., 1895
A New or Improved Adjustable Book Rest.
I, ARNOLD BARINGER, of 39, Obere Bahnhofstrasse, Apolda, in the Empire of
Germany, Professor, 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 :-
The book rest which forms the subject of the present invention is constructed in
such a manner that the surface upon which the book rests is capable of adjustment
so as to enable the book to be raised to any desired height, and to be adjusted to
any desired inclination relatively to the reader's line of sight. Furthermore it may
also be provided with a drawer for the reception of pens, pencils, pocket-knives
and the like.
I will now particularly describe my invention making reference to the
accompanying drawing in which :-
Figure 1 is a sectional view in side elevation of a book rest constructed
according to my invention.
Figure 2 is a broken view in plan thereof, and
Figure 3 is a view in front elevation.
Figure 4 is a broken detail view in section, and
Figure 5 is a view in side elevation.
Throughout the views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
The book rest consists of lateral bars A, A, provided on their upper sides or
edges with grooves B, B. These bars A, A, are connected at their lower ends by
a cross-piece and are hinged to the bed plate C in such a manner as to be capable
of being adjusted to any angle therewith. The cross-piece which connects the
bars A, A, together may be made in the form of a box K of any desired design or
shape, which may be used for the reception of various articles. The plate D
designed to serve as a rest or support for the book is provided on its back with
tongues or ribs E, E, which engage in the grooves B, B, of the bars A, A. This
plate D may therefore be slidden into the bars A, A.
In order to provide a firm connection between the combined bars A, A, and the
plate D, the form in cross section of the tongues or ribs E, E, and of the
grooves B, B, may be of dove-tail shape. On the lower ends of the tongues or
ribs E, E, there are arranged springs F, F, which, when the plate D is shifted,
slide and bear in the grooves B, B, and thus hold the plate D iu any position in
which it may be placed by means of the friction produced by the springs F, F.
The lower part of the grooves B, B, are formed with notches G, G, into which
take projections H, H, formed on the springs F, F, when the plate D has been
pushed completely into the bars A, A. Furthermore at the rear part of the
plate D there is hinged a strut or support S which engages with the teeth of a
rack I formed in the bed plate C when the plate D is to be shifted. In order to
enable the various parts of the support or rest to be held firmly together when
folded, a hook and an eye on the plate D or on the base plate C is provided.
When it is desired to use the book-rest, it is unfolded and placed in position by
means of the strut or support S. Then by shifting the plate D in an upward
direction the said plate is raised together with the book resting thereon to any
desired height. As the support S is binged to the plate D, this shifting of the
plate D in an upward or in a downward direction will impart to the said plate
the requisite inclination. The rest can be used by even the most short-sighted

page_text: persons because by the ease of adjustment of the support the reader can arrange
his book in the most convenient position to suit his sight, without having to bend
the upper part of his body.
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 :-
(1.) An adjustable book-rest for reading and like purposes in which the plate D
carrying the book is arranged to slide in or on bars A, A, which are hinged to the
base plate C, in such a manner that by shifting the book-carrying plate D and
the bearing of the strut or support S hinged thereto in the teeth of the rack I of
the base plate C, the book-carrying plate D can be adjusted to any desired height
and inclination.
(2.) In an adjustable book rest for reading and like purposes as hereinbefore
described and claimed by Claim 1, the use of springs such as F, F, as and for the
purpose set forth.
(3.) In an adjustable book-rest as hereinbefore described and claimed in Claim 1,
making the transverse connection of the bars A, A, as a receptacle of various
articles, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the accompanying
drawing.
(4.) An adjustable book rest constructed and adapted to operate as hereinbefore
described and shown on the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 11th day of July 1895.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Associate Agent.