FACILITATING HEADING NEWSPAPERS, Books, AT TABLE to bo
Year: 1884

page_text: I, GRONOW DAVIS of 5 Royal Park Clifton Bristol, do hereby declare the naturo
of my invention for FACILITATING HEADING NEWSPAPERS, Books, AT TABLE to bo
as follows:-
This contrivance conists of a slab of metal in shape & size variable according
to requirements.-At a short distance, from one side are holes into which are fitted
the ends of a piece of stout wire shaped in a circle or otherwise, and sloping
slightly, against which the newspaper or book is to rest-Across the lower portion
of this wire frame may be a piece of leather or other material to bear the back of
a book The upper surface of base is either roughened or covered with material to
prevent the paper or book from slipping. From the upper portion of the frame is
a piece of wire cord, curved & so arranged as to come over the upper margin of
the leaves of the book keeping them open & flat.-Being flexible this wire cord
is adaptable to sizes of books.

page_text: I, GRONOW DAVIS of 5 Royal Park Clifton Bristol, Major General late
Rl. Artillery do hereby declare the nature of my invention for FACILITATING
READING NEWSPAPERS, BOOKS &C AT TABLE and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and. by the following
statement:
This contrivance is a simple, secure and convenient support for Newspapers
Books &c while being read at table.
It consists of a heavy base of Iron or other material, attached to which is a frame
of stout wire leaning alightly to support the Newspaper or book.
On the upper surface of the base is fixed a piece of velvet or other material to
prevent the paper or book from slipping.
To support the back of a book there are fixed crossed wires or other material
across the lower portion of the wire frame.
Across the upper portion is hung a piece of wire, or wire cord, or chain intended
to lic over the upper margin of a book; and it has a moderate weight attached
near the point of suspension at the left side of the frame.
The right end of the cord being thus lighter is easily raised by the leaf of a book,
while being turned over and the leaf is readily passed under the weight & thus
pressure on both leaves is secured and they are kept open, only one hand being
required to be used in turning over the leaves.
The invention is principally intended for use at table, during a meal or under
other circumstances, when the hands are not readily available. The weight of the
baso ensures stability even at the extreme edge of a table if necessary. It is desired
that this reading stand may be made of any suitable material, of any size or form,
& either with or without the arrangement for keeping leaves open and also
that it may be made more portable by having its wire frame hinged, so as to fold
down, or inade removeable; that it may be ornamented to any extent, or made the
means of bearing any implements or tables of information which might bo
ordinarily useful to a person using it while reading, writing, drawing or performing
on a musical instrument, for use as a support in all which processes it is eminently
adapted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed: I declare that what
I claim is The reading stand consisting of a wire frame either fixed or hinged to
a heavy slab, and with or without the weighted wire or cord for holding down the
leaves substantially as herein before described.
Dated this 25th day of October 1884.