Bookstand with adjustable mechanism

Abstract

Provided is a bookstand having an upper and a lower member, each pivotally attached to a backing support member. An outer edge of the upper member fits into slots provided in the lower member, thereby allowing the angle at which a book or other reading material is inclined to be changed by a user. In addition, a latch on the lower member permits the selected angle to be locked in. In certain configurations, the backing support member also is provided with a removable scented element.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains to an apparatus for holding a book or other reading material and is particularly applicable to an adjustable bookstand having a locking mechanism for locking the bookstand into a desired position.

2. Description of the Related Art

Bookchair Company Ltd. produces and sells, among other things, a line of small portable stands for supporting a book or other reading material, thereby allowing a user to read such material even when his or her hands are otherwise occupied. Most of such stands are made of wood, are sized appropriately to accommodate a single book or magazine, and are adjustable so that the angle at which the reading material is held can be varied by the user. This adjustment is accomplished by a pair of members extending from, and pivotally attached to, a member that supports and holds the reading material. More specifically, the distal end of the upper pivotally attached member has a crossbar that fits into any of a plurality of notches in the lower pivotally attached member. Thus, a user merely needs to select the appropriate notch to obtain the desired angle of inclination. The pivotally attached members are arranged such that the entire bookstand can be folded flat. Variations on the bookstands sold by Bookchair Company Ltd. include models that have a scented pouch in the support element, as well as models that have a fabric backing with wood support beams and models that have a backing made entirely from wood.

While the foregoing models have been popular and are quite useful for their intended purposes, the present inventors have continued to refine the designs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One result of these efforts has been the present invention, which improves the earlier bookstands by utilizing a locking mechanism to lock the bookstand into a desired angle of inclination.

Thus, in one aspect the invention is directed to a bookstand that includes support means for holding a book and/or a paper and positioning means for adjusting the support means into a desired position. The support means includes a backing element having a top edge and a bottom edge and also includes a ledge extending forwardly from the backing element, near the bottom edge of the backing element. The positioning means includes an upper member and a lower member. The upper member has a proximal edge and a distal edge, and is pivotally attached to the backing element at its proximal edge. The lower member includes a proximal edge and a distal edge, the proximal edge of the lower member being pivotally attached to the backing element at a position closer than the upper element to the bottom edge of the backing element. A plurality of slots in the lower member are configured to accept the distal edge of the upper member, thereby permitting the support means to be fixed at a plurality of different angles of inclination. The lower member also includes at least one latch, movable so as to cover at least one of the slots when the distal edge of the upper member is inserted therein.

By utilizing at least one latch in the foregoing manner, a bookstand according to the present invention can be locked into a desired angle of inclination, thereby preventing a situation in which, e.g., the bookstand accidentally is jolted out of its desired orientation.

In more particular aspects of the invention, a scented element is incorporated into the bookstand. Preferably, such a scented element is removably disposed within the backing element of the support means, thereby permitting replacement of the scented element. This can be accomplished, for example, by incorporating a fabric pouch into the bookstand's backing element, inserting the scented element into the pouch and then temporarily closing the pouch (e.g., using a zipper). In the preferred embodiments of the invention, the scented element has a number of separately sealed compartments (e.g., sewn together) for holding scented particles, such as scented ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) beads.

The foregoing summary is intended merely to provide a brief description of the general nature of the invention. A more complete understanding of the invention can be obtained by referring to the claims and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments in connection with the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a bookstand according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the bookstand shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the bookstand shown in FIG. 1, with the fabric portion of the support backing removed and the scented element removed from its pouch.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the rear portion of the bookstand shown in FIG. 1, with a locking latch provided.

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the bookstand shown in FIG. 1, folded flat.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

FIGS. 1-4 illustrate bookstand 10 according to the present invention. As shown, bookstand 10 generally is comprised of three main components: a backing element 12, an upper pivotally attached member 14, and a lower pivotally attached member 16. The upper pivotally attached member 14 is pivotally attached at its proximal edge to a middle or upper position on the backing element 12. The lower pivotally attached member 16 is pivotally attached at its proximal edge to a bottom position on the backing element 12.

In the preferred embodiments of the invention, the backing element 12 is approximately 10-40 centimeters (cm) wide by 12-50 cm long and includes: (i) an outer frame structure having side elements 21, an upper element 23 and a lower element 24; (ii) a crossbar 25 or other central support structure; and (iii) a fabric element 27 attached to the outer frame structure (e.g., top and bottom elements 23 and 24, respectively, in the present embodiment). More specifically, in the present embodiment fabric element 27 is made of cotton and includes a metal eyelet 30 in each corner to which is sewn a pair of fabric straps 32 for tying to the top and bottom elements 23 and 24, respectively. However, in alternate embodiments fabric element 27 may be made of canvas or any other material and may be permanently sewn or glued to the outer frame structure or attached using other temporary means, e.g., a combination of hook and loop materials, such as Velcro.

Fabric element 27 may be configured as an essentially flat sheet of fabric material. However, in the current embodiment of the invention, fabric element 27 instead is provided with a pouch 34, into which may be inserted a scented element 36. For example, scented element 36 may have a lavender, lemon or rose scent. Preferably, pouch 34 is provided with closure means, such as a zipper 37, a combination of hook and loop materials, or similar means for securing and then subsequently permitting easy access to pouch 34. In the present embodiment of the invention, the scented element 36 is configured as an array of separately sealed compartments 39 sewn together, each of which containing scented beads, e.g., made from ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA). The use of separately sealed compartments 39 often is advantageous in that it can help prevent the scented beads from collecting at the bottom of pouch 34. However, other configurations instead may be used. In addition to providing scent, the scented element 36 also can provide a certain amount of cushioning. Alternatively, or in addition, a separate cushioning element may be inserted into fabric element 27.

Extending from the bottom portion of backing element 12 is a ledge 44, upon which a book or other reading material may rest. Two rotatable latches 46 are pivotally attached to the distal edge of ledge 36. As a result, a user may rotate latches 38 over the top of the pages of an open book resting on ledge 36, thereby keeping the book open to a desired page.

In the current embodiment, as shown most clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3, upper member 14 is configured as a simple U-shaped member having two side arms 52-53, pivotally attached at their proximal ends to the outer edges of side elements 21 of backing element 12, with a dowel 55 extending between the distal ends of such side arms 52-53. Lower member 16 is configured as a rectangular-shaped member having two side arms 57-58, pivotally attached near their proximal ends to the inner edges of side elements 21 of backing element 12 (but at a lower position than the side arms 52-53 of upper member 14), and in this case having a dowel (or other supporting cross element) 59 at the proximal end of side arms 57-58 and another dowel (or other supporting cross element) 60 at the distal end of side arms 57-58. Each of side arms 57-58 has a plurality of matching slots 62-64 for accepting upper member dowel 55. As a result, bookstand 10 can be arranged with backing element 12 supported in an upright position, with the entire structure having a triangular appearance from the side. Moreover, by placing dowel 55 into different slot pairs 62-64, the angle at which backing element 12 is inclined can be changed.

Preferably, as shown in FIG. 4, side arms 57-58 are provided with a pair of pivoting latches 72-73 that can be rotated so as to cover any of slots 62-64. As a result, once dowel 55 is inserted into a desired slot pair 62-64, latches 72-73 can be rotated to cover such slots, thereby locking dowel 55 into such slots. In order to achieve the desired effect, latches 72-73 are pinned to their corresponding side arms 57-58 with sufficient force that they are allowed to rotate, but with enough resistance that they will only rotate when external force is applied, thereby preventing them from accidentally rotating and uncovering the desired slot pair 62-64. In addition, dowel 55 may be made slightly larger than slots 62-64 such that one or both of latches 72-73 encounters resistance when rotated over dowel 55, thereby even further preventing the accidental movement of latches 72-73.

In the preferred embodiments of the invention, the entire structure of bookstand 10 (including upper pivotally attached member 14, lower pivotally attached member 16, side elements 21, upper element 23, lower element 24 and crossbar 25) is fabricated from wood. However, other materials may be used instead (or in addition).

A variety of different sizes may be employed, but in each case the specific model preferably is sized appropriately to accommodate the desired size of book or other reading material. Typical sizes are: 15 cm high by 13 centimeters wide, 21 centimeters high by 16 centimeters wide, 32 centimeters high by 24.5 centimeters wide, and 41 centimeters high by 33 centimeters wide.

Preferably, the structure of bookstand 10 has a natural wood appearance, and the fabric element 27 is provided with a single uniform color or a patterned design. However, in alternate embodiments the structure itself may be painted and/or otherwise ornamented as appropriate to the intended user. For example, the fabric element 27 and/or the structure of bookstand 27 may be colored and/or otherwise decorated in a manner that is particularly appealing to young children.

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

In the embodiments described above, both the upper member 14 and the lower member 16 are pivotally attached to backing element 12. This configuration, in addition to allowing for adjustment of backing element 12's angle of inclination, also can permit the entire bookstand 10 to be folded flat, as shown in FIG. 5. More specifically, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, upper member 14 is long enough to extend past the end of backing element 12 when pivoted into an orientation parallel to backing element 12, and lower member 16 is a short enough to fit behind backing element 12 when pivoted into an orientation parallel to backing element 12. As a result, bookstand 10 can be folded flat (except for the existence of ledge 44) for easy storage. However, such a configuration is not critical, and either or both of upper member 14 or lower member 16 may be fixedly attached to backing element 12 and/or of different relative sizes than those indicated above.

Where a scented element 36 is utilized, the scent may be selected to correspond to the physical and/or ornamental aspects of the bookstand 10. For example, if bookstand 10 is sized for use by children, and/or ornamented so as to appeal to children, the scent might be selected so as to appeal to children, e.g., a bubblegum scent.

Also, several different embodiments of the present invention are described above, with each such embodiment described as including certain features. However, it is intended that the features described in connection with the discussion of any single embodiment are not limited to that embodiment but may be included and/or arranged in various combinations in any of the other embodiments as well, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

Similarly, in the discussion above, functionality may be ascribed to a particular module or component. However, unless any particular functionality is described above as being critical to the referenced module or component, functionality may be redistributed as desired among any different modules or components, in some cases completely obviating the need for a particular component or module and/or requiring the addition of new components or modules. The precise distribution of functionality preferably is made according to known engineering tradeoffs, with reference to the specific embodiment of the invention, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

Thus, although the present invention has been described in detail with regard to the exemplary embodiments thereof and accompanying drawings, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that various adaptations and modifications of the present invention may be accomplished without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments shown in the drawings and described above. Rather, it is intended that all such variations not departing from the spirit of the invention be considered as within the scope thereof as limited solely by the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. A bookstand, comprising:

(a) support means for holding at least one of a book and a paper, said support means including: (i) a backing element having a top edge and a bottom edge; and (ii) a ledge extending forwardly from the backing element, near the bottom edge of the backing element; and

(b) positioning means for adjusting the support means into a desired position, said positioning means including: (i) an upper member having a proximal edge and a distal edge, pivotally attached to the backing element at its proximal edge; and (ii) a lower member that includes: (1) a proximal edge and a distal edge, the proximal edge of the lower member being pivotally attached to the backing element at a position closer than the upper element to the bottom edge of the backing element, (2) a plurality of slots that are configured to accept the distal edge of the upper member, thereby permitting the support means to be fixed at a plurality of different angles of inclination, and (3) at least one latch that is movable so as to cover at least one of the slots when the distal edge of the upper member is inserted therein.

2. A bookstand according to claim 1, further comprising a scented element.

3. A bookstand according to claim 2, wherein the scented element is disposed within the backing element of the support means.

4. A bookstand according to claim 3, wherein the backing element comprises a pouch of that contains the scented element.

5. A bookstand according to claim 4, wherein the pouch comprises closure means for securing the scented element within the pouch and for readily reopening the pouch to replace the scented element.

6. A bookstand according to claim 4, wherein the pouch is comprised of fabric.

7. A bookstand according to claim 2, wherein the scented element comprises a plurality of scented ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) beads.

8. A bookstand according to claim 2, wherein the scented element has a scent of at least one of lavender, lemon, and rose.

9. A bookstand according to claim 2, wherein the scented element is removably attached to the bookstand.

10. A bookstand according to claim 1, wherein the positioning means is pivotally attached to the support means such that the entire bookstand folds approximately flat.

11. A bookstand according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of latches that are rotatably attached to the ledge for holding a book open at a desired page.

12. A bookstand according to claim 1, wherein the bookstand is comprised of wood.

13. A bookstand according to claim 1, wherein the backing element is comprised of fabric.

14. A bookstand according to claim 1, wherein the upper member comprises a pair of arms attached by a cross member at the distal edge of the upper member.

15. A bookstand according to claim 1, wherein the lower member comprises a pair of arms attached by at least one cross member, and wherein the slots are provided within the arms of the lower member, a pair of slots for each desired position of the support means.

16. A bookstand according to claim 1, wherein the backing element is approximately 10-40 cm wide by 12-50 cm long.