An Improved BOOK Stand or slide.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Dec., 1894--Accepted, 16th Mar, 1895
An Improved BOOK Stand or slide.
I, BENJAMIN IVES GILMAN, of 184 Commonwealth Avenue in the City of
Boston, County of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, formerly of Brookline, un
the County of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, United States of America,
Curator of Museum, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertamed in
and by the following stateinent:—
My invention relates to a portable and adjustable reference rack, which the
length of the rack may be adjusted, to hold a greater or less number of books, as
desired.
The object of my invention is to provide a reference rack, adapted more
particularly to hold a number of large books, which are used for reference, in an
inclined position and on their backs, so that any of the books may be readily
opened, and held open for consultation, without removing the book from the
holder.
My invention consists in certain novel features of construction of a portable and
adjustable reference rack, as will be hereinafter fully described, and the nature
thereof indicated by the claim.
Referring to the drawings
Figure 1 is a side view of my reference rack, showing four books held thereon,
with one book open.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the reference ack shown in Fig. 1, with the books
emoved.
Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section through one of the end frames, on line 3, 3,
Fig. 2.
Fig 4 is a vertical cross section, on line 4, 4, Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 is a longitudinal cross section through one of the end frames, taken at a
point indicated by Ime 5, 5, Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrow, same
figme, and
Fig. 6 is an end view of the two frames in position for transportation.
In the accompanying drawings my reference rack consists essentially of two rigid
trames or bodies 1 and 2, made in the general form of triangular prisms, of a length
or width corresponding to the desired width of the refcience rack. One of the
sides of the prism, preferably the longest side b, rests on the sun face on which the
reference 1ack is supported. The next longest side c, forms the inclined support,
upon which the end books in the rack iest, as shown in Fig. 1. The frames 1 and 2
referably consist of en cross bars a, as shown in Fig. 3, attached at their ends to
the two ends or sides e, of the frame. Preferably let into grooves or recesses in
the outer edges of the ends e, are pieces of rubber, or other material d, as shown in
Fig 4, which project slightly beyond the plane edges of the ends, to furnish a
friction surface, and to prevent the frames 1 and 2 from slipping or moving on
then supporting surfaco. The frames 1 and 2 are connected and held, at any
desired distance apart, by a flexible connection, consisting of a strip or sheet 3, of
non stretchable flexible material, preferably cloth, of a width a little less than the
width or length of the frames 1 and 2, as shown in Fig. 2
The ends of the stip 3 are preferably adjustably attached to each frame 1 and 2,
so that the frames may be moved away from or towards each other, to lengthen or
shorten the reference rack, and held in position, by extending through a longitudinal

page_text: slot or opening 4', in the rod 4, located within each frame 1 and 2, Journaled in
the ends e thereof, as shown in Fig. 5.
The ends of the rod 4 extend though the ends e, of the frames 1 and 2, and one
end of the rod has a thumb nut 5 fast thereon, by which the rod 4 is turned, in one
dection, or in the other, to wind the stup 3, as shown in Fig. 3, so that the
frames 1 and 2 may be moved apart. The other end of the rod 4 is provided with
a removable thumb aut 6, which may be tuned on or off the rod 4
rod 4 has been turned by the thumb nut 5, to wind or unwind the strip 3, as
desired, the thumb nut 6 is turned on to the 1od, to bear agamst the end of the
frame, or against a washer 7, to prevent the rod 4 from tuning.
After the
The thumb nut 6 may be turned off of the rod 4, and the rod removed from the
frames 1 or 2, if desired.
In case it is desued to change the position of the frames, relatively to ench
other, to use the reference rack as a book rack, for holding books in an upright
position, or as a book support for a single book, or to secure the frames together
for transportation, as shown in Fig. 6, one end of the strip 3 is withdrawn from the
longitudinal slut 4', in one of the rods 4, and one of the frames put in the desired
position, relatively to the other frame, and then the end of the strip is teinserted in
the slot, and the od turned, to wind the strip thereon, to hold the frames in the
desed position, the thumb nut 6 being turned up to prevent the rod 4 from
tuning.
The advantages of my reference rack will be readily appreciated by those
skilled in the art. It is of very simple construction, and expensive to make, and
may be used for a number of purposes, in connection with holding and supporting
books, and is especially adapted to hold a number of large books on then backs,
and in an inclined position so that any one of them may be opened, and held open
for consultation, without removing any of the books from the holder.
It will be understood that the details of construction of the ends or frames of the
reference rack, may be varied, if desired.
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 18:
In a reference rack, the combination with two triangular frames, and a flexible
connection between said frames, of means for connecting one or both ends of said
connection to said hames, to vary the length of the rack, consisting of a rod
journaled in one of the hames, and provided with a longitudinal slot therein,
adapted to receive one end of said connection, and menus for turning said rod to
wind or unwind said connection, and means for preventing said 1od from turning,
substantially as set forth.
Dated this 21st day of December 1904
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON, Fels Chart. Inst. P.A.,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.