US2478849A - Portable writing board - Google Patents

Description

' Aug. 9, 1949.

J. M. THOMPSON, SR 2,478,849

PORTABLE WRITING BOARD Filed Jan. 3, 1947 /z' /0 iii? 'mmnum h. I 55] m 5 a 1 .6- 80min fi ENTOR.

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' to a position in close engagement Patented Aug. 9, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PORTABLE WRITING BOARD John M. Thompson, Sr., Axtell, Kans. Application January 3, 1947, Serial No. 720,003

1 Claim. 1

Ihis invention relates to writing boards, the primary object of the invention being to provide a writing board having means whereby the board may be conveniently held on the leg of the person using the writing board.

An important object of the invention is to provide means whereby the inclination or angle of the writing board may be varied for the convenience of the user.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing Figure 1 is an elevational view of a writing board constructed in acordance with the invention, and illustrating the prop of the writing board as extended for use.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the writing board.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the writing board is indicated generally by the reference character 5.

Connected to the underside of the board 5, at a point intermediate the ends thereof, is an ad- Justable prop or rest 6. This prop is of a width slightly less than the width of the writing board proper, and is provided with a curved cut-away portion 1, designed to fit over the knee of the person using the board.

The hinges which connect the prop to the board, are indicated by the reference character 8, and :as shown a rod 9 connects the hinges. A spring member ID is coiled around the rod 9 and secured thereto, one of the ends of the spring member ID extending laterally, where it contacts the prop 6, the opposite end l2 of the spring engaging the underside of the writing board proper. Thus, it will be seen that when the prop is moved to its supporting position as shown by Figure 1 of the drawing, the spring will be placed under tension, so that when the board is lifted from the leg of the person using the writing board and the chain M to be hereinafter more clearly described, is disconnected from the prop 6, the action of the spring member ID will be to move the prop or rest with the bottom of the writing board.

Secured to the prop or rest 6, is a plate 13, which is formed with a. key-hole slot for the reception of links of the chain I l. The chain Hi has one of its ends secured to the writing board near one end of the writing board, so that the chain may be extended and moved into the key-hole opening of the plate [3. By moving the prop or rest 6 to various angular positions with respect to the board, and securing the prop in its adjusted position by connectin the chain thereto, the angle at which the board may be supported may be varied, to meet the requirements of the user.

A clamp such as indicated at I5 is positioned over one edge of the writing board, so that papers may be clamped thereto.

From the foregoing it will be seen that due to the construction shown and described, I have provided a writing board for lap use, which may be readily and conveniently moved from a folded condition, to an extended position for use.

What is claimed is:

A portable writing board comprising a body portion, a wide prop hingedly connected to the body portion, said prop having a curved lower edge adapted to fit over the leg of the user of the board, means for connecting the prop to the body portion, said means including hinge members connected to the writing board and prop, and a rod connecting the hinge members, a coiled spring coiled around the rod, one end of the spring being connected to the prop, the other end of the spring being connected to the body portion whereby said prop is urged towards the body portion, a plate having a key-hole opening, secured to the prop, and a chain having one of its ends connected with the body portion at its end opposite to that toward which the prop is urged, and the links of said chain adapted to be positioned in said key-hole opening, securing the prop in its positions of adjustment.

JOHN M. THOMPSON. Sn.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 578,325 Fleming Mar. 9, 1897 1,116,016 Cochran Nov. 3, 1914 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 210,665 Great Britain Feb. "I, 1924

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