US2195777A - Book support and line indicator - Google Patents

Description

April 2, 1940. P. P. GREICIUS BOOK SUPPORT AND LINE INDICATOR Filed May 17, 1957 l INVENTOR H l S ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 2, 1940 STATES PATENT ,omcEf 2,195,177 1 BOOK SUPPORT AND; LINE INDICATOR Peter P. Greiciuspbhioago, Ill. 2' Application my 17, 1937, Serial No. 143,194

2 Claims. (01. 120-33).

reach 46 is not arranged in true parallel relation My invention relates to books and includes among its-objects and advantages the provision of an improved book support and line indicator. An'object'of-my. invention is to provide a book sup-port sov designed as toeffectively support a book in-1an open position at an angle to the horizontal and in which a novel line indicator is associated withthe support in such a manner as to be readily movable across the page or pages of the book.

-':A'- further1-object1 is to provide abook support including 'aline-indicator in which the' indicator is 'sdetachably connected with the support. The supportalsotincludes adjustment for books of different sizes;

.In the accompanying drawing:

.Fig; 1' is a perspective view of my invention illustrating a book supported thereby;

Fig. 2' is a sectional viewjalong the line 22 of Fig-.1 with parts broken away for the sake of compactnessyw Fig; '3-is'asectional view along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;. =2)

Fig. "4 is a. sectional view along theline 4-4 of.Fig."2;" @19 ffii Fig. 5 is a sectional view along the line 5--5 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one form of line indicator.

In the embodiment selected to illustrate my invention I make use of two pieces of wire indicated generally at I8 and I2. Wire I8 is bent at l4, l6, l8, and 28 to provide an inverted U-shaped supporting element or abutment 22. Wire [8 is again bentat 24 and 2 6 to provide converging reaches 28.

Wire 12 is bent at 38 and 32 and shaped between the bends to provide a curved reach 34.

The wire is bent at 36 and 38 to provide substantially parallel and vertically positioned reaches 48 which, in turn, are bent at 42 and 44 to provide diverging reaches 46 arranged in parallel relation with the converging reaches 28.

Reaches 2B and 46 are slidably connected. Each reach 28 carries a flattened sleeve 48 at its ends, which sleeve loosely embraces the adjacent reach 46. In Fig. 4, I illustrate the sleeve 48 as being welded at 58 to its reach 28. Similarly, a flattened sleeve 52 is welded'to each end of each reach 46 and slidably embraces the adjacent reach 28. Thus, the reaches 28 and 46 are adjustably connected, which permits the support to be adjusted to vary the distance between the vertical reaches 48 and the supporting element 22. While one reach 28 and its associated with the other reaches 28. and 46, the flexible nature of the wire permits adjustment within necessary limits depending upon the requirements of the book. For general purposes, one adjustment is'suflicient since the book may project a considerable distance beyond the vertical reaches 48.

In operation, thebook isplaced on the support with the back of the book aligned with the curved reach 34 withone end of the book abutting the U-shaped element 22. With the book opened, the, back will lie within the curved reach 34 with the covers 54 lying on the reaches 56 between the'bends 38 and 36and 32and 38. Reaches 48, 34, and 56 define a supporting element which supports the book at an angle to the horizontal. The lower end of the book has abutting relation with the supporting element 22, which element lies in aplane at a slight angle to the vertical,

as illustrated in Fig. 2. Reaches 56 and reach 34have a total length less than the width of the average book'when opened. Thus, the book will extend beyond the points of bend 36 and'38 which loads the outer-margins of the book in such a manner as to hold the book in an open position while the curved reach 34 is of sufiicient depth to accommodate the back of all types of books.

Frequently, it is desirable to utilize a line indicator. To this end I pivotally connect a rectangularly shaped loop or link 58 with the bight 68 of the supporting element 22. Loop 58 comprises a piece of wire bent to provide a reach 62 and two reaches 64 fixedly connected with a tube 66 pivotally mounted on the reach 68. A rod 68 is pivotally connected with the reach 62 by a U-shaped connecting element 18 shaped to embrace the reach 62 throughout'slightly more than 180, as illustrated in Fig. 2. However, the connecting element 18 embodies sufficient resilient properties to permit quick and easy connection ordisconnection. The connecting element 18 may be welded to one end of the rod 68, as indicated at 72 in Fig. 2.

Upon the rod 68 I slidably mount the line indicator 14. In Fig. 1, I illustrate the line indicator 14 as comprising a sheet metal strap 16 provided with a slot 18 of suificient widthto expose one line of reading matter on either of the book pages 88. Strap I6 is slidably supported within a flattened loop 82 having a sleeve 84 slidably mounted on the rod 68. I fixedly connect a spring element 86 with the sleeve 84 and shape its end 88 so as to have pressure relation with the rod 68 for frictionally holding the line indicator "M in different positions longitudinally of the rod 88. Strap T6 is slidable within the flattened loop 82 so that it may be shifted laterally of the rod 68 to accommodate a book page of different Widths. The indicator is so constructed as to expose one line only at a time, but the indicator may be moved easily along the rod to any desired position.

In the event that the line indicator is not desired, it is removed by merely disconnecting the element 10 from the reach 62. At this time the loop 58 may be pivoted about the bight 60 to position the loop in a plane common to the supporting element 22. The loop is so shaped as to be housed within the supporting element so as to be in a position in the clear of the pages 80. With the loop 58 so positioned within the supporting element 22, the pages may be turned without interference, and at the same time the loop is so positioned as to lie within the contour of the book support.

Tube 66 is so related to the bight 60 as to have frictional relation therewith for positively supporting the loop in any of its different positions. In Fig. 5, I illustrate the manner in which frictional relation between the two parts is established. Originally, the bight 60 is bowed slightly, as indicated in dotted lines 90. The tube is then placed in position, which causes the bight to substantially straighten, as indicated in full lines. Thus, the bight is flexed within the tube. The tensional forces incident to the straightened bight are of such a degree as to establish suflicient frictional relation between the bight and the tube for positively holding the loop 58 in diiierent positions.

Fig. 6 illustrates a difierent form of line indicator. In this form I employ a relatively thin metal strip 92 of a highly flexible nature. One end of the strip is provided with a loop 94 for slidably receiving the rod 68. The opposite end of the strip 92 may be loaded, as indicated at 96. In operation, the rod 68 will lie snugly in the groove defining the separation between the pages 80, but the strip 92 will bend across the page throughout its entire length. Weight 86 insures proper bending of the strip, in addition weighting it to such a degree as to hold it firmly on the page.

Loop 58 is so shaped as to extend partly over the pages and may be utilized for holding the pages in an open position.

Fig. 2 illustrates the reaches 28 and 46 as being offset at 98 so as to bring the sleeves 48 and 52 out of contacting relation with the table or other support for the device. Thus, the support would balance regardless of the position of the sleeves.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain my invention that others may,

by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim:

1. In a book support having means for holding a book in an inclined position in a position of rest on the support, said support having an abutment for engaging the lower end of the book on the support, said abutment being in the nature of an inverted U with its bight positioned above the upper face of the book on the support, a line indicator supporting rod arranged to extend longitudinally and centrally of the open book on the support, and a link pivotally connected with the bight of the abutment and with one end of the line indicator supporting rod.

2. In a book support having means for holding a book in an inclined position in a position of rest on the support, said support having an abutment for engaging the lower end of the book on the support, said abutment comprising a horizontal pivot having legs at its ends connected with the support for supporting the pivot, a line indicator supporting rod, a link pivotally connected with the pivot and with one end of the line indicator supporting rod, said link being movable about the pivot for moving the pivoted end of the line indicator supporting rod toward and away from the book on the support, and being movable to a position between said legs.

PETER P. GREICIUS.

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