Improvements in Book and Manuscript Holders
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Sept., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 6th Nov., 1897-Accepted, 11th Dec., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
"Improvements in Book and Manuscript Holders."
I, ELBERT DUNCAN HALL (Clergyman) of Mitchell, in the County of Mitchell
and State of Iowa, United States of America; do hereby declare the nature of
this Invention to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to that class of book and manuscript holders which are
supported on a table and mounted to swing at various positions with relation
thereto, so that the holder may be adjusted to suit the convenience of the person
using it.
The Invention will be fully described hereinafter with reference to the accom-
panying drawings forming a part of this Specification in which similar characters
of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the Figures. Figure 1 is a frag-
mentary perspective view of the table having my Invention applied thereto.
Figure 2 is a reduced plan view shewing the same parts. Figure 3 is a sectional
view on the line III-III of Figure 5. Figure 4 is an enlarged elevation of the
parts shewn in Figures 1 and 2, and Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line V-V
of Figure 3.
The table is provided with a plate 6 having two lugs 7 struck therefrom wherein
is pivoted the downwardly extending end 8 of the supporting bar 9 of the book or
manuscript holder. The book or manuscript rest consists in three longitudinal
frame plates 10, 11, and 12 each approximately triangular in form and having
their upper edges inclined forwardly. To the front of the ends of the plates 10,
11, and 12 is secured an upwardly extending cleat 13 while the upper edges of the
plates 10, 11, and 12 have a covering or top 14 secured thereon. The shape of the
rest is approximately square and the position of the bar 9 relative to the rest and
to the table is such that the rest may swing into either of the two positions illus-
trated respectively by full and dotted lines in Figure 2. The plate 11 is extended
downwardly below the lower edges of the plates 10 and 12 and is provided' with a
recess 15 over which is a wear plate 16 having an opening therein through which
the upwardly extending end 17 of the bar 9 is passed. The horizontal or main
portion of the bar 9 passes out through the open side of the recess 15 as best shewn
in Figure 5. The downwardly extended portion of the plate 11 has a horizontal
groove 18 running longitudinally through it. In this groove the inwardly bent
ends 19 of the extensions 20 of the plates 21 run. Each plate 21 has a longi-
tudinal slot 22 receiving thumb bolts 23 whereby the plates 21 may be adjusted
toward and from the recess 15. The plates 21 lie flat against the side of the
plate 11 at which the recess 15 opens. By adjusting the plates as described, the
swing of the bar 9 on its outwardly extending portion 17 and within the recess 15
may be regulated so that in swinging the book rest from one position to the other,
as shewn in Figure 2, the movement of the bar 9 and of the book rest on the bar
will be properly regulated. The cover or top 14 of the book rest is provided with
series of transversely extending dovetail grooves 24 covered by metallic slats 25
let into the upper surface of the top 14. By this construction passages are

page_text: formed in the cover 14 wherein are received the dovetail bars 26. The bars 26
project out at one side of the book holder and are fixed to a longitudinally extend-
ing bar 27 extending in the plane of the cover 14 and joined at its front end to a
vertically disposed plate 28 sliding in a passage formed in the cleat 13. The
bar 27 with the bars 26 may be drawn outward to the position shewn by dotted
lines in Figure 1, so as to extend the supporting surface of the book rest. These
parts may also be pushed in, as shewn by full lines in Figures 1 and 5 at which
position the book rest will be contracted. Secured to the middle portion of the
bar 27 is a downwardly extending eye 29 to which a rod 30 is fixed at its outer
end. The rod 30 slides transversely in the plates 11 and 12 and has a stop 31 at
its inner end, which stop is adapted to engage the plate 11 to limit the outward
movement of the bar. When the stop 31 engages the plate 11 the bars 27 and 26
will be at the limit of their outward movement.
To relieve the bar 9 of some of the strain placed upon the book holder, I provide
a bar 32 sliding transverselv in the plates 11 and 12 and running parallel with the
bar 30. The bar 32 has near its outer end an upwardly extending lug 33 and
near its inner end an upwardly extending lug 34. These lugs are capable of
respectively engaging the inner sides of the plates 11 and 12 so as to limit the
sliding movement of the bar 32. Secured to, and depending from, the bar 30-at
point between the plates 11 and 12 is a lug 35 which is located between the
lugs 33 and 34. As the bar 30 slides with the bars 26 and 27, the lug 31 of the
bar 30 will engage the inner end of the bar 32 and push the same to the position
shewn by dotted lines in Figure 5 whereupon the outer end of the bar 32 will be
rested on the top of the table so as to receive the greater portion of the weight
placed on the book holder. The return of the bar 30 to its inactive position,
causes the lug 35 to engage the lug 34 and retract the bar 32. The lug 35 also
acts to engage the lug 33 when the bar 30 is moved outward. It is thus that the
lugs 31 and 35 act jointly to push the bar 32 outward. The operation of each
lug will suffice to perform this function.
A book rest constructed as described is strong and durable and may be moved
to very convenient positions with reference to the person using the table. The
bars 26 and 27 may be so placed that they will project from either side of the book.
rest so that the book rest will be elongated either in a direction over the top of
the table or in a direction outward therefrom. As disposed in the drawings, these
bars project over the table when drawn from the book rest. It is obvious, how-
ever, that they could extend in an opposite direction.
The Invention is applicable to either end of a table whether the table be
extensible or non-extensible.
Dated this 7th day of Suntember 1897
I, ELBERT DUNCAN HALL (Clergyman) of Mitchell, in the County of Mitchell
and State of Iowa, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of 4
my invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement.
This invention relates to that class of book and manuscript holders, which are
supported on a table and mounted to swing at various positions with relation

page_text: thereto, so that the holder may be adjusted to suit the convenience of the person
using it.
The invention will be fully described hereinafter and defined in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the drawings accompanying my provisional specifica-
tion, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all
the Figures.
Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the table having my invention
applied thereto;
Figure 2 is a reduced plan view showing the same parts:
Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line III-III of Figure 5;
Figure 4 is an enlarged elevation of the parts shown in Figures 1 and 2; and
Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line V-V of Figure 3.
The table is provided with a plate 6 having two lugs 7 struck therefrom,
wherein is pivoted the downwardly extending end 8 of the supporting bar 9 of the
book or manuscript holder. The book or manuscript rest consists in three longi-
tudinal frame plates 10, 11 and 12, each approximately triangular in form and
having their upper edges inclined forwardly. To the front of the ends of the
plates 10, 11 and 12 is secured an upwardly extending cleat 13, while the upper
edges of the plates 10, 11 and 12 have a covering or top 14" secured thereon. The
shape of the rest is approximately square, and the position of the bar 9 relative to
the rest and to the table is such, that the rest may swing into either of the two
positions illustrated respectively by full and dotted lines in Figure 2.
The plate 11 is extended downwardly below the lower edges of the plates 10
and 12 and is provided with a recess 15, over which is a wear plate 16 having an
opening therein through which the upwardly extending bar 17 of the bar 9 is
passed. The horizontal or main portion of the bar 9 passes out through the open
side of the recess 15, as best shown in Figure 5. The downwardly extended
portion of the plate 11 has a horizontal groove 18 running longitudinally through
it. In this groove the inwardly bent ends 19 of the extensions 20 of the plates 21
run. Each plate 21 has a longitudinal slot 22, receiving thumb bolts 23, whereby
the plates 21 may be adjusted toward and from the recess 15. The plates 21 lie
flat against the side of the plate 11 at which the recess 15 opens. By adjusting
the plate as decribed, the swing of the bar 9 on its outwardly extending portion 17
and within the recess 15 may be regulated, so that in swinging the book rest from
one position to the other as shown in Figure 2, the movement of the bar 9 and of
the hook rest on the bar will be properly regulated.
The cover or top 14 of the book rest is provided with a series of transversely
extending dovetail grooves 24, covered by metallic slats 25, let into the upper
surface of the top 14. By this construction passages are formed in the covers 14,
wherein are received the dovetail bars 26. The bars 26 project out at one side of
the book holder, and are fixed to a longitudinally extending bar 27, extending in
the plane of the cover 14, and joined at its front end to a vertically disposed
The bar 27 with the bars 26
plate 28, sliding in a passage formed in the cleat 13.
may be drawn outward to the position shown by dotted lines in Figure 1, so as to
extend the supporting surface of the book rest. These parts may also be pushed
in as shown by full lines in Figures 1 and 5, at which position the book rest will
be contracted. Secured to the middle portion of the bar 27 is a downwardly
extending eye 29, to which a rod 30 is fixed at its outer end. The rod 30 slides
transversely in the plates 11 and 12 and has a stop 31 at its inner end, which stop
is adapted to engage the plate 11 to limit the outward movement of the bar. When
the stop 31 engages the plate 11 the bars 27 and 26 will be at the limit of their
outward movement.
To relieve the bar 9 of some of the strain placed upon the book holder, I provide a
bar 32 sliding transversely in the plates 11 and 12 and running parallel with the
bar 30. The bar 32 has near its outer end an unwardly extending lug 33, and
near its inner end an upwardly extending lug 34. These lugs are capable of
respectively engaging the inner sides of the plates 11 and 12 so as to limit the

page_text: sliding movement of the bar 32. Secured to and depending from the bar 30 at a
point between the plates 11 and 12 is a lug 35, which is located between the
lugs 33 and 34. As the bar 30 slides with the bars 26 and 27, the lug 31 of the
bar 30 will engage the inner end of the bar 32 and push the same to the position
shown by dotted lines in Figure 5, whereupon the outer end of the bar 32 will bo
rested on the top of the table so as to receive the greater portion of the weight
placed on the book holder. The return of the bar 30 to its inactive position,
causes the lug 35 to engage the lug 34 and retract the bar 32. The lug 35 also
acts to engage the bug 33 when the bar 30 is moved outward. It is thus that the
lugs 31 and 35 act jointly to push the bar 32 outward. The operation of each
lug will suffice to perform this function.
A book rest constructed as described, is strong and durable and may be moved
to very convenient positions with reference to the person using the table.
The bars 26 and 27 may be so placed that they will project from either side of the
book rest, so that the book rest will be elongated either in a direction over the
top of the table or in a direction outward therefrom. As disposed in the draw-
ings, these bars project over the table when drawn from the book rest. It is
obvious, however, that they could extend in an opposite direction. The invention
is applicable to either end of a table whether the table be extensible or non-
extensible.
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,-.
1. The combination of a bar having an upwardly bent portion at one end, a
book rest having a passage receiving the upwardly bent portion of the bar, the
book rest also having a recess in which the horizontal portion of the bar adjacent
to the upwardly extending portion thereof projects, and two plates carried by the
book rest and respectively located on the sides of the horizontal portion of the bar,
whereby to limit the swinging movement of the bar relatively to the book rest,
substantially as described.
2. A book rest having a frame plate with a recess in its lower portion and with a
passage extending upwardly from the recess, a bar having a main portion and an
upwardly bent portion, the main portion extending into the recess and the up-
wardly bent portion running into the passage, and two plates carried by the frame
plate and adjustable toward and from the main portion of the bar, so as to regulate
the movement of said bar relatively to the book rest, substantially as described.
3. The combination of a supporting bar, a book rest pivoted thereto, and two
plates carried by the book rest and respectively on opposite sides of the supporting
bar, the plates being movable toward and from the bar, so as to limit the move-
ment of the bar relatively to the book rest, substantially as described.
4. A book rest having a frame plate with a recess in its lower edge, the frame
plate also having a passage extending upwardly from the recess, a supporting bar
having an upwardly bent end, the supporting bar having a portion running into
the recess and having the upwardly bent end revolubly mounted within the
passage, a wear plate held against the upper wall of the recess and engaging the
supporting bar, and two plates respectively carried by the frame plate and adjust-
able toward and from the supporting bar, the frame plates being located on
opposite sides of the recess and serving to limit the movement of the bar relatively
to the book rest, substantially as described.
5. A book rest having a main portion, an extension slidably connected with the
main portion, a supporting bar pivotally connected to the book rest, and a bar
sliding in the main portion of the book rest and moved outward by the movement
of the extension, the said bar being capable of engaging the supporting bar to
assist in holding the book rest, substantially as described.
6. The combination of book rest, an extension sliding thereon, a bar moved

page_text: outward by the extension and capable of engaging a support, and a supporting
bar pivoted to the book rest, substantially as described.
7. The combination of a book rest, an extension sliding thereon, and a bar
sliding in the book rest and moved outward by the movement of the extension,
the bar being capable of engaging a support to assist in holding the book rest,
substantially as described.
8. The combination of a book rest, an extension sliding on the book rest, a bar
slidable in the book rest and connected rigidly to the extension, a second bar
sliding in the book rest and capable of being moved by the movement of the first
bar, and a supporting bar pivotally connected to the book rest, substantially as
described.
9. The combination of a book rest, an extension sliding thereon, a bar sliding in
the book rest and rigidly connected to the extension, and a second bar also sliding
in the book rest and moved by the movement of the first bar, substantially as
described.
10. The combination of a book rest, an extension sliding on the book rest, a
bar also sliding on the book rest and rigidly connected to the extension, a lug on
the bar, a second bar sliding in the book rest, and two lugs on the second bar, the
lugs on the second bar being respectively located on opposite sides of the lug of the
first bar, substantially as described.
11. The combination of the table, the bar pivoted thereto adjacent to a corner
thereof, and the book rest pivoted to the outer end of said bar and arranged to
swing in the plane of the table so as to engage the latter at either of the sides
meeting at said corner, substantially as described.
Dated this 6th day of November 1897
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents 53 Chancery Lane London.