Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to clipboards adapted to hold spine bound pages such as those commonly seen in magazines, books and brochures.  
         [0002]     Clipboards are exceedingly useful articles. They hold papers, documents and sometimes books and magazines. Spine bound materials are useful articles, too. They allow a user to turn pages at will to a desired pair of pages. Clipboards and book holders have in past required the user to choose a pair of pages that will be locked down for review.  
         [0003]     U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,952,989, 5,067,682 and 5,797,578 show devices that are capable of holding books or magazines by using an rearward inclined plane and a bottom edge ledge to form a back support for a book, in combination with mechanisms at that bottom edge for holding the pages open. The rather obvious disadvantage of these devices is that text or graphics is blocked and obscured on the page where the hold down mechanism contacts the page.  
         [0004]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,015,129 shows a book holder that uses side wire bails on right and left sides of the inclined plane that does not necessarily obscure the pages. However, turning a page requires release of a page from on wire bail, turning the page to the other side, lifting the other wire bail and tucking the page under that other wire bail.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,969,623 shows that a bottom edge flange can rotate about the bottom edge up to the bottom of pages of a spine bound set of pages, although the problem of obscuring and the necessity of lifting page securing means, turning a page and resetting the page securing means remains a problem with this and other prior art devices.  
         [0006]     There is a need for a device that allows the user to secure spine bound pages to an inclined plane but that will allow the user to be free of the release securing means and reset securing means steps.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention comprises a clipboard having a support back with a clip at the top of the support back where a center and forward cut away or recessed portion of the clip is removed leaving two extension legs that are adapted to hold down at least the outside covers of a number of spine bound pages. The invention provides a user with the capability of holding open and supporting on the support back the collection of spine bound pages while making it very easy for the user to turn the pages of the spine bound pages back and forth to view the contents thereon.  
         [0008]     The present invention also comprises a support lip at the bottom edge of the support back so that a bottom edge of the spine bound pages rest on that lip, especially the bottom end of the spine of the spine bound pages. In a preferred embodiment, a top end of the spine of the spine bound pages is located close to and almost underneath or slightly underneath an uppermost edge of the cut away portion of the clip and the bottom end is located on the support lip. The overall structural effect of the clipping action of the legs and bracing of the spine ends provides a surprisingly effective means for page turning about the axis of the spine. The primary invention effect is enhanced by providing sliding means among a back part of the clip and the support back so that the clip is capable of being secured in more than one position along the line intended for location of the spine of the spine bound pages. Moving the clip up or down along that line permits the user to more closely effect the preferred structure of the relationship between the support lip and the invention clip.  
         [0009]     The present invention also comprises means for support of the support back at an acute angle to a tabletop or horizontal surface so that the user of the support back may more easily view the contents of the pages of the spine bound pages. The support back has attached to it by a hinge structure to a support frame adapted to make the entire structure free standing. The hinge structure is located at the top of the support back on its back side so that the support frame may rotate from a position flat against the support back to a position at an acute angle away from the support back, thereby allowing the user to rest the bottom edge of the support back and a bottom edge of the support frame on a tabletop or generally horizontal surface. Any papers or pages clipped to the front side of the support back may then be viewed by the user at the more convenient angle. In a preferred embodiment, the support frame is relatively narrow and is adapted to, in a latched position, lie near the edges of the support back, where the support frame is formed with an L. shaped cross-section. For the support frame, one edge of the L. shaped cross-section is intended to lie flat or close to the back side of the support back, that leg of the L. shaped cross-section lining closest to the edge of the support back. The other leg of the L. shaped cross-section extends toward the center portion of the back of the support back, thereby forming an center directed overhang held up with a peripheral wall. A substantial opening is defined by the support frame in a latched position against the support back, whereupon is attached by Velcro or other appropriate means a flexible sheet in a manner adapted to contain sheets of paper which the user may desire to store on the back side of the support back instead of under the clip of the clipboard. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is a generalized view normal to a top piece of the invention clip holding in place spine bound pages.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a side view of three components of an invention clip, the top piece, a bottom piece and spring means.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the components of  FIG. 2  in an assembled clip.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a side view of a clip similar to that of  FIG. 3 , however having a reduced radius of rotation as to the top piece and the bottom piece.  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a side view of a clip similar to that of  FIG. 3 , however having a modified contact leg.  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a side view of clip similar to that the  FIG. 3 , however having a thumb depressing flange replaced by means to lift the clip.  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is a side you of the clip similar to that the  FIG. 3 , however having a thumb depressing flange non planar with the contact legs.  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  is a view similar to that of  FIG. 1  of a clipboard according to the invention with a support back about the size of a standard clipboard.  
         [0018]      FIG. 9  is the view of and the device of  FIG. 8  retaining spine bound pages in a manner that permits some free pages to be turned from side to side.  
         [0019]      FIG. 10  is the cross-section AA of  FIG. 9 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 11  is the device of  FIG. 8  and the view of  FIG. 8  incorporating sliding means for the invention clip.  
         [0021]      FIG. 12  this section BB of  FIG. 11 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 13  is section CC of  FIG. 11 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 14  is a cut away view of the device of  FIG. 11  showing the bottom piece of the clip in relation to slots on the support back.  
         [0024]      FIG. 15  is a top view of the bottom piece of  FIG. 14 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 16  is a bottom view of the bottom piece of  FIG. 14 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 17  is a side view of the bottom piece of  FIG. 14 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 18  shows the back side of a support back with a hinged support frame defining opening through to the support back where on is located a means for retaining sheets of paper for storage.  
         [0028]      FIG. 19  is a side view of the device of  FIG. 18 .  
         [0029]      FIG. 20  is a side view of the device of  FIG. 19  in an opened position adapted to be rested on a tabletop or horizontal surface.  
         [0030]      FIG. 21  is the cross-section DD of  FIG. 18 .  
         [0031]      FIG. 22  is cross-section EE of  FIG. 18 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 23  is cross-section FF of  FIG. 18 .  
         [0033]      FIG. 24  is the device of  FIG. 18  showing a flexible sheet of the means for retaining sheets of paper flexed outward for receiving a sheet of paper.  
         [0034]      FIG. 25  is the  FIG. 18  showing the flexible sheet of the means for retaining sheets of paper by attachment of the flexible sheet to the back side of the support back thereby retaining one or more sheets of paper within those means.  
         [0035]      FIGS. 26, 27  and  28  are respectively cross sections CC, BB and manipulated BB for an alternate embodiment of the slidable assembly of the invention.  
         [0036]      FIGS. 29 and 30  are respectively bottom and top views of a top surface plate for the embodiment of  FIGS. 26-28 .  
         [0037]      FIG. 31  is either a top or bottom view of a bottom surface plate for the embodiment of  FIGS. 26-28 .  
         [0038]      FIGS. 32 and 33  are respectively front and side views of a backside of a clipboard for an alternate embodiment of the device of  FIG. 18-23 , without the hinged legs.  
         [0039]      FIGS. 33-40  are respectively front, section GG, rear, section KK, detail J, detail  1 , section HH, and detail J views of the hinged legs for the embodiment of  FIGS. 32 and 33 .  
         [0040]      FIG. 41  shows the clipboard of  FIGS. 32 and 33  and the hinged legs of  FIGS. 33-40  engaged and moved apart to rest at their lowest edges on a substantially horizontal surface.  
         [0041]      FIG. 42  shows a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 32 .  
         [0042]      FIGS. 43 and 44  respectively show the clipboard of  FIGS. 32 and 33  attached in a closed position with the hinged legs of  FIGS. 33 and 34  in broken lines. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0043]     The invention is now discussed with reference to the Figures.  
         [0044]      FIG. 1  shows the invention assembly  100  in a view normal to the angled top piece of clip  101  so that the plane of support back  102  will be seen at an angle slightly out of the page. Although support back  102  is shown with extensive broken line dimensions in  FIG. 1 , a critical function to the invention clip is to provide opposing surfaces  103  for the contact legs  105  of clip  101  so that at least the front and back covers of spine bound pages  107 , as in  FIG. 9 , may be captured between them. It will be appreciated that a cutout portion  106  provides the effective departure from the prior art with respect to a standard clipboard design facilitating the invention function of securing the covers and/or one or more pages adjacent to them.  
         [0045]     The invention clip  101  comprises, as shown in  FIG. 2 , a top piece  109  that is attached at and rotates against spring resistance about holes  114  held by pins in connection with holes  116  of bottom piece  110 . Bottom piece  110  is attached or is molded with support back  102 . Spring means  118  in  FIG. 2  is shown apart from pieces  109  and  110  and typically comprises a leaf spring, wound wire spring or other such prior art spring means for clipboards. Top piece  109  comprises a thumb depression portion  112 , two rotation extensions  113  having axis holes  114 , and legs section  111 . Bottom piece  110  comprises to rotation extensions  116  having axis holes  117 , and a support back attachment portion  115 .  FIG. 3  shows the assembled top piece  109 , bottom piece  110 , and spring means  118  attached to support back  102  having a support lip  108  for a spine end of spine bound pages. The device of  FIG. 3  shows a preferred embodiment of the invention clip with a maximum height arising from the can attachment of the top piece to the bottom piece at holes  114  and  117 . The device of  FIG. 4  is an alternate embodiment to that shown in  FIG. 3  where the rotation extensions of the top piece and the bottom piece are shorter than those shown in  FIG. 3  resulting in a path of the clip of  FIG. 4  being capable of restraining fewer pages than the device of  FIG. 3 . The device of  FIG. 5  is substantially fat shown in  FIG. 3  although the legs portion  111  is modified at the legs  105  so that the plane of legs portion  111  is dog laid down at portion  119  and extends at a different angle through portion  120 , whereby the bottom surface  121  of portion  120  is adapted to press substantially flatter against spine bound pages  107  than the legs  105  of the device of  FIG. 3 . The device of  FIG. 6  comprises an invention clip with no some depressing section  112 , it&#39;s lifting function replaced by a finger clip  123  on legs portion  111 . The device of  FIG. 7  is substantially that shown in  FIG. 3  although the some depressing section  112  is that a substantially different angle band that of the plane of the legs portion  124 . The several embodiments of the invention clip shown in  FIGS. 2 through 7  demonstrate that the objects of the invention in effectively restraining the pages of spine bound pages  107  may be accomplished with one of several forms of the invention clip.  
         [0046]      FIG. 8  shows a support back  102  having the approximate size of a standard prior art clipboard adapted to hold papers about 8½ inches by about 11 inches, where the invention clip  101  is shown in  FIG. 8  with its top piece plane parallel to the surface of the page. Top piece  109 , as described above, in  FIG. 8  comprises a cut out portion having a cut out height of  106 / a  and a width of  106 / b . In a preferred embodiment, height  106 / a  is from about ¼ of an inch to about four inches, so that the top of the spine of spine bound pages  107  as in  FIG. 9  is located preferably near the top of height  106 / a . Width  106 / b  is preferably between about 1 inch and about 6-7 inches, although a more preferable with  106 / b  is between about 2 to 4 inches.  FIG. 9  shows spine bound pages  107  located in the device of  FIG. 8  so that retained pages  126  are captured between legs  105  and the top surface of support back  102 , where the bottom of the spine of spine bound pages rests supportively against support lip  108 . Free pages  125  rotate freely about the spine of spine bound pages  107  in  FIG. 8  separated from retained pages  126  by legs  105 , whereby free pages  125  are capable of lying substantially entirely toward the plane of one set of retained pages  126  or the other without being urged upward due to the restraint of pages  126 .  FIG. 10  shows cross section M of  FIG. 9  such that free pages  125  may be lifted somewhat above retained pages  126  by the effect of those three pages  125  rising above legs  105  of invention clip  101 .  
         [0047]     The invention further comprises adaptation of the bottom piece of the invention clip and the support back so that the entire invention clip is movable up and down the length of the support back, where the invention clip is capable of being secured at one or more positions in that up or down track for the invention clip. This clip moving embodiment permits to the use of the invention clip with spine bound pages having widely varying spine lengths. A set of spine bound pages having a short spine may be effectively engaged with the invention clip and supported by the support lip upon a much longer support back by placing the bottom end of the spine of the spine bound pages against the support lip and moving downward for effective page retention function the invention clip until the top part of height  106 / a  is about at the top of the spine of the spine bound pages. It is intended that the embodiments of  FIGS. 11 through 13  achieve the objects of the invention shown in  FIGS. 8 through 10 , the although it is clear that the invention shown in  FIG. 11  is movable up and down with respect to slots  133  on support back  102 .  FIG. 11  shows clip  101 / a  path in a top or upper most position while clip  101 / b  is in a lower most position for a shortest spine length for a set of spine bound pages. The means for sliding and retaining in position the invention clip in positions at and between clips  101 / a  and  101 / b  as shown in  FIG. 11  comprise to sliding slots  133  and a notch portion  128  on support back  102 , while the bottom piece  110  is adapted to have for extensions  130  adapted to retain bottom piece  110  against the front surface of support back  102  by secure engagement of extensions  130  in slots  133  and where bottom piece  110  is further adapted to have a notch portion  134  adapted to slidably engage notch portion  128  on support back  102 . If  FIGS. 12 and 13  respectively show cross sections BB and CC so that positions  101 / a  and  101 / b  may be appreciated from inside view whereby the upper most portion of height  106 / a  may be appreciated as being movable from the upper most to lower most positions relative to support back  102 . Thus the embodiments of  FIGS. 11 through 13  permit a longest length  131  for a set of spine bound pages or a shortest length  132  for a set of spine bound pages or any length in between to be accommodated and supported between the invention clip and support lip  108 , while leaving free pages turnable without being urged unduly in a direction undesired for the user.  
         [0048]      FIGS. 14 through 17  show the bottom piece  110  of clip embodiment of  FIGS. 11-13  apart from the top piece for appreciation of the structure and relative motion of the support back  102  and that bottom piece  110 .  FIG. 14  shows the top piece in broken lines. Notch portion  134  is formed in relation to extensions  130  and slots  133  so the forced motion of portion  134  over  128  will provide a ratcheting securement of the invention clip in positions  101 / a  through  101 / b . Other means such as removable pins in through holes may be provided to accomplish this securing and movability functions.  
         [0049]      FIGS. 18 through 25  show an embodiment of an invention for the back surface of support back  151 . Support back  151  is adapted to have a frame  160  hingedly attached to a top end of support back  151 . Frame  160  allows the user to lift the bottom side  163  away from support back  151  (as shown in  FIGS. 22 and 20  respectively) so the user can support the device on a substantially horizontal surface like a tabletop. However, frame  160  defines an opening comprising the inside edges of sides  161 - 163  where most of the back surface of support back  151  can be accessed. The present invention provides for storage of paper or other sheet material as sheets  167  against the back surface of support back  151  whereby a removable flexible sheet  164  provides for facial and top and bottom edge restraint for sheets  167  and where lateral restraint for sheets  167  is provided by concave portions of edges  161 . The embodiment so formed thus allows the user multiple functions for what is typically just the back side of a clipboard adapted only to lay flat against a horizontal surface or hung against a vertical surface.  
         [0050]      FIG. 18  shows that frame  160  has pieces shown as sides  161 ,  162  and  163  having a substantially inverted L-shape cross section (as seen in  FIGS. 21 through 23 ). That shape is adapted to provide means for restraining the edges of sheets  167  (as in  FIG. 25 ) facially held below the upper inverted lip of the L-shape sides by flexible sheet  164 . The opening defined by sides  161 ,  162  and  163  generally allows flexible sheet  164  to lift away from the back side of support back  151  at a top edge  166 , as shown in  FIGS. 24 and 25 , so that sheets  167  can be inserted or removed from between flexible sheet  164  and the back side of support back  151  to provide storage of such sheets when they are not being used by the user or have been removed from clipping attachment to the front side of support back  151 .  FIG. 18  shows slots  133  and extensions  130  are operable together for the functions of the device shown in  FIG. 11  without interfering with the storage of sheets  167  between flexible sheet  164  and the back side of support back  151 .  
         [0051]     Flexible sheet  164  comprises top edge Velcro tabs  156  and bottom edge Velcro tabs  157 , whereby tabs  156  permit securable attachment of top edge  166  against the back side of support back  151  and tabs  157  permit securable to attachment of bottom edge  167  against the back side of support back  151  to thereby secure flexible sheet  164  to add a position slightly elevated but substantially parallel to the back side of support back  151  to permit storage of sheets  167  therein. Tabs  156  and  157  comprise mateable pieces, such as  156 / a  and  156 / b , of Velcro to with adhesive backs, where in such backs are adhered to opposing services of flexible sheet  164  and the back side of support back  151 .  
         [0052]     It is preferred that support back  151  and frame  160  be adapted to be releaseably latchable against one another with flashing means such as extension  153  from the edge of support back  151 , where such extension of  153  comprises a lip extension that will engage notch  171  at an opposing edge of frame  160 . Flexible sheet  164  has sighed edges  165  the top edge  166  and bottom edge  163 . The width  172  of flexible sheet  164  is adapted to be effectively less than width  173  in the opening of frame  160  so that as shown in  FIGS. 24 and 25 , flexible sheet  164  at its top edge  166  may be releaseably drawn away from support back  151  at tabs  156  without having to disturb frame  160  when it is latched against support back  102 . Side edges  170  of sheets  167  are restrained from sliding out from under sheet  167  by the concave overhang of sides  161 . Top edges  168  of sheets  167  are restrained from sliding from under sheet  167  by the concave overhang of side  162  and/or tabs  156 . Bottom edges  169  of sheets  167  are restrained from sliding from under sheet  167  by the concave overhang of side  163  and/or tabs  157 .  
         [0053]     Referring to  FIGS. 18 and 23 , the hinge attachment of frame  160  to support back  151  may be appreciated as comprising a pin extension from piece  154  into a pin and hole means  155  so that side  162  is adapted to rotate about the axis formed by pin and hole means  155 . Broken away section  168  more clearly shows the pin from extension  154 .  FIG. 19  shows a broken line section  158  on the front side of support back  151  where would be typically located the invention clip and/or a prior art clip.  
         [0054]     The with of sides  161  and/or  163  may be increased so that the See with a removable or hinged door may be located thereover so that articles such as pens and pencils may be stored in those cavities and secured therein by closure of the doors were covers.  
         [0055]     An alternate embodiment is now described for the slidable assembly as shown  FIGS. 11-13 .  FIGS. 26, 27  and  28  are respectively cross sections CC, BB and manipulated BB for an alternate embodiment of the slidable assembly of the invention. It can be appreciated that  FIG. 11  shows piece  101  substantially covering the piece to which it is mounted for rotation and spring opposition. In  FIGS. 12 and 13 , piece  110  is shown having an attachment means to board  151  that are flanged extensions that extend through slots  133 . The embodiment of  FIGS. 26-28  provides a bottom side plate  174  with holes  175  aligned to holes  177  of extension  175  from plate  173 , thus to permit connection of the plates  173  and  174  by screws, rivets of other connection means. This connection improves the sliding stability of the slidable assembly, although other embodiments for such connection are within the invention. A further means for engaging and releasing the slidable assembly from the notches  134  are shown in  FIGS. 27-30 . Plate  173  has at an upper end extensions  178  and  179  capable of releasably holding a writing instrument. However, mating notches are provided on the underside of plate  173  to provide securement means for the slidable assembly only to the extent that they may be effectively released from securing interface  180   a  as in  FIG. 27  to releasing interface as in  FIG. 28  by upward direction  182  finger pressure. Thus, extension  179  provides for an easily releasable means for moving the slidable assembly from one height on the invention clipboard to another with direction  182  finger pressure.  
         [0056]     Now an alternate embodiment of the device of  FIG. 18-23  is discussed.  FIGS. 32 and 33  are respectively front and side views of a backside of a clipboard for an alternate embodiment of the device of  FIG. 18-23 , without the hinged legs. It will be appreciated that many of the structures are equivalent in function to those of  FIGS. 18-23 . A clipboard  150   a  has a flat plate  151   a  with extensions  153  to releasably latch the hinged legs in a closed position, although the hinge means for the legs are now extensions  188  with holes therethrough adapted to receive the prongs  189  shown in  FIGS. 33-38 . Plate  151   a  is adapted to have holes  186  to permit easy carrying and the overall shape is adapted to have a pleasing look. Flexible sheet  164  is adapted to have adhesive attachment means  157   a  to the lower portion of plate  151  in a manner the reduces the overall profile of the sheet  164  above the backside of plate  151   a , thereby making possible smooth and secure latching of the legs to extension  153  even with papers secured between sheet  164  and the backside of plate  151   a . Extension  187  is substantially normal to the top edge of plate  151   a  so that the entire assembly lying with the legs in a closed position on a table surface will be substantially parallel with that surface and permit easy writing on documents on the front side of plate  151   a.    
         [0057]      FIGS. 33-40  are respectively front, section GG, rear, section KK, detail J, detail  1 , section HH, and detail J views of the hinged legs for the embodiment of  FIGS. 32 and 33 . The hinged legs of this embodiment are functionally equivalent to those of previous embodiments, as shown in the open position assembly of  FIG. 141 . It can be readily appreciated from  FIG. 36  that the concavity forming features of leg sides  161  and  163  (side  162  is eliminated in this embodiment, its structure being functionally equivalently replaced with the prongs  189  and extension  188  combination) are preserved with the side wall  161   a  extending up and inward toward a center portion of plate  151   a  when the legs are hingedly attached to board  150   a .  FIG. 41  shows the clipboard of  FIGS. 32 and 33  and the hinged legs of  FIGS. 33-40  engaged and moved apart to rest at their lowest edges on a substantially horizontal surface.  FIG. 42  shows a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 32  in a manner indicating the absence of interference with retained papers under sheet  164  by the up and down motion of plate  174  against the backside of plate  151   a .  FIGS. 43 and 44  respectively show the clipboard of  FIGS. 32 and 33  attached in a closed position with the hinged legs of  FIGS. 33 and 34  in broken lines.  
         [0058]     The invention comprises, with reference to the features analogously described above, a method for using a clipboard for securing and viewing spine bound pages on an inclined plane so that a user will not have to release a clip means to turn each page comprising:  
         [0059]     (a) the spine bound pages comprise multiple pages bound along a common edge to form a straight spine with an upper spine end and a lower spine end, where the spine bound pages are adapted to lie in a stack when the spine bound pages are in a closed position and may be turned page by page by a user for viewing each page when a user grasps a free page edge at a page edge distal to the straight spine and intermediate pages are located between a front page and a back page;  
         [0060]     (b) a flat, generally rectangular board plate with dimensions less than or equal to eleven inches wide by fifteen inches long, inclining the board plate along its length to between about thirty degrees to about eighty degrees so that an upper surface of the board plate presents an inclined plane;  
         [0061]     (c) a lower edge of the board plate comprises a ledge extending generally upward and normal to the inclined plane and adapted to support the lower spine end and bottom page edges of pages extending laterally from the bottom edge of spine bound pages so that the spine bound pages cannot slide off of the inclined plane when the spine bound pages are placed on the inclined plane;  
         [0062]     (d) a clip means for securing top edges the front page and back page near the spine upper spine end onto the inclined plane leaving at least most intermediate pages free to be turned page by page by the user, where clip means are movable with hand motion from a top position near the top of the inclined plane to a lowest position about halfway down the inclined plane and are adapted to be releasably secured at several intermediate positions between the topmost position and the lowest position;  
         [0063]     (e) clip means further comprise a sliding plate slideably engaged in a slot extending from the top position to the lowest position and a pivoting plate is connected by a pivot to the sliding plate, whereby the pivoting plate is urged by a spring so that ends two legs of the pivoting plate extend down from the pivot to press on the inclined surface to hold down respectively the first and second pages, where a generally arcuate cutout is defined by a space the two legs so that the ends of the two legs are at least three inches apart;  
         [0064]     (f) opening the spine bound pages, laying the first and second pages on the inclined plane, abutting the lower spine end and bottom page edges against the ledge, moving clip means from the top position toward the top spine end and elevating and releasing the ends of the legs from the surface of the inclined plane to capture the first and second pages respectively so that a topmost part of the arcuate cutout does not lie above any page, and a user turns at least most of the intermediate pages back and forth while the first and second pages are captured beneath the leg ends.  
         [0065]     The invention also comprises a structure where the topmost part of the arcuate cutout lies always at least about 2.5 centimeters above the surface of the inclined plane.  
         [0066]     The invention also comprises a structure where leg ends are separated by the arcuate cutout by at least 5 centimeters.  
         [0067]     The above design options will sometimes present the skilled designer with considerable and wide ranges from which to choose appropriate apparatus and method modifications for the above examples. However, the objects of the present invention will still be obtained by that skilled designer applying such design options in an appropriate manner.

Technology Category: 1