Book and document holding device

Abstract

A device for holding a document or book, comprising, a base, a support surface member pivotally connected to the base and movable between a storage position and an operative position, means for temporarily securing the support surface member in the operative position, a writing ledge adapted to support the document or book positioned on the support surface member and means for temporarily attaching the writing ledge to the support surface member, wherein the writing ledge has a least one indentation therein adapted to allow a user of the device to position a hand or forearm within the indentation without interference with the writing ledge.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Canadian Patent Application No. 2,666,950, filed on May 27, 2009, the complete disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a book and document holding device, and more particularly, relates to a book and document holding device having removable and interchangeable writing and document support ledges.

2. Brief Description of the Related Art

Devices for holding and supporting a book or document are well known. In some circumstances it may be desirable that the book or document be positioned on an angle to the horizontal to facilitate the comfortable posture and neck orientation of those individuals utilizing the book or document. Some book and document holders have an inclined surface upon which the book or document may be positioned, and also provide a ledge on the lowest edge of the inclined surface to support the book or document from falling from the inclined surface. While this ledge may readily prevent the book or document from sliding off of the inclined surface, it may also present an impediment to the ergonomic utilization of the book or document positioned thereon, as the height of the ledge may interfere with a users wrist or arm during utilization.

It is desirable to have a book and document holder having an inclined surface upon which to position a book or document having a writing ledge attachable to the lowest edge of the inclined surface having one or more indents therein to eliminate or reduce interference between the writing ledge and the user's wrist or forearm when the user is for example writing or drawing on the book or document. It is also desirable that such a writing ledge be usable by both left handed and right handed users. It is also desirable to have a book ledge attachable to the lowest edge of the inclined surface that can be readily substituted for the writing ledge. It is also desirable to have a fast, secure and effective arrangement for interchanging the writing ledge and the book ledge on the book and document holder.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a book and document holder having an inclined surface upon which to position a book or document having a writing ledge attachable to the lowest edge of the inclined surface having one or more indents therein to eliminate or reduce interference between the writing ledge and the users wrist or forearm when the user is for example writing or drawing on the book or document.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a writing ledge be usable by both left handed and right handed users.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a book ledge attachable to the lowest edge of the inclined surface that can be readily substituted for the writing ledge.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a fast, secure and effective arrangement for interchanging the writing ledge and the book ledge on the book and document holder.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for holding a document or book, comprising, a base, a support surface member pivotally connected to the base and movable between a storage position and an operative position, means for temporarily securing the support surface member in the operative position; a writing ledge adapted to support the document or book positioned on the support surface member and means for temporarily attaching the writing ledge to the support surface member, wherein the writing ledge has a least one indentation therein adapted to allow a user of the device to position a hand or forearm within the indentation without interference with the writing ledge.

An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a book and document holder having an inclined surface upon which to position a book or document having a writing ledge attachable to the lowest edge of the inclined surface having one or more indents therein to eliminate or reduce interference between the writing ledge and the users wrist or forearm when the user is for example writing or drawing on the book or document.

A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides a writing ledge usable by both left handed and right handed users.

A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides a book ledge attachable to the lowest edge of the inclined surface that can be readily substituted for the writing ledge.

A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides a fast, secure and effective arrangement for interchanging the writing ledge and the book ledge on the book and document holder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view, partially in ghost, of one embodiment of the present invention with a writing ledge positioned for use by a right-handed user;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a point of attachment of between the writing ledge and the support surface member of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A is a view of a writing ledge of one embodiment of the present invention oriented for use by a right handed user;

FIG. 3B is a view of the writing ledge of FIG. 3A oriented for use by a left handed user;

FIG. 3C is a view of a shortened writing ledge of an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a view of a lengthened writing ledge of an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a view of one embodiment of the present invention with a book ledge positioned thereon;

FIG. 6 is a view of a book ledge of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a view of a book ledge of an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the embodiment of the adjustment plate of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention with a widened support surface member and dual writing ledges attached thereto.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5, a book and document holding device 1 is provided, having, in a preferred embodiment, a base 2 preferably made of wood, plastic or other suitable material that may be positioned, for example, on a flat surface such as a table top (not shown), the base 2 being preferably pivotably connected by way of, for example, a hinge 9, to a support surface member 4 preferably made of, for example, melamine-faced particle or chip board or other suitable material known to a person skilled in the art, the support surface member 4 being pivotable (as illustrated by the arrow 15) about the hinge 9 between a lowered storage position to an operative raised position for use and being supportable by one or more support legs 8 preferably made of ¼″ threaded steel rod and preferably connected to one another as illustrated in FIG. 1, it being understood that alternative support devices of alternative materials may be utilized in a manner known to a person skilled in the art, the support legs 8 being preferably pivotably connected to the underside of the support surface member 4 by way of collars 11 screwed into or otherwise securely fastened to the underside of the support surface member 4, the collars 11 being adapted to snugly and rotatably receive a portion of the support legs 8 in such a manner as to allow the support legs 8 to rotate within the collars 11 (as illustrated by the arrow 13) the lower end of the support leg 8 being insertable into one of the holes 12 in an adjustment plate 10 securely fastened to the base 2 (preferably, where the base is made of wood, by way of wood screws 42 passing through slots 40 in the adjustment plate 10 and into the base, as illustrated in FIG. 8), it being understood that alternative devices of alternative materials may be utilized in a manner known to a person skilled in the art to securely fasten the adjustment plate 10 to the base 2.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a writing ledge 14 is provided as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3A and 3B for releasable attachment to the lower edge 16 of the support surface 4 member as more fully described herein, the writing ledge 14 being preferably made of plastic or PVC material of approximately ¼″ thickness, it being understood that alternative thicknesses and alternative materials may be utilized in a manner known to a person skilled in the art. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 3A, a main indentation 22 is provided so that when the writing ledge 14 is installed on the lower edge 16 of the support surface member as described herein, the main indentation 22 is substantially flush with the upper surface of the support surface member as illustrated in FIG. 1. In this configuration (that is, then the main indentation 22 is positioned nearest the right hand side of the support surface member as illustrated in FIG. 1), when a document is positioned on the support surface member, a right-handed individual may position their right wrist or fore-arm within the area provided by the main indentation 22 so as to comfortably write or draw on the document. A supplementary indentation 24 is also provided so that if necessary, the right-handed individual may instead position their right wrist or fore-arm within the area provided by the supplementary indentation 24 (for example, where the individual is desirous of writing or drawing in the lower left corner of a document positioned on the support surface member). If the individual is left-handed, the writing ledge 14 may be instead be oriented as illustrated in FIG. 3B, and attached to the lower edge 16 of the support surface member such that the main indentation 22 is on the left hand side of the support surface member). As illustrated in FIG. 3C, a shortened writing ledge is alternatively provided (for use on book and document holding devices of narrower width), the supplementary indentation 24 being of reduced length in this embodiment.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, slots 20 are provided in the writing ledge to facilitate, as more fully described herein, the quick and secure temporary connection of the writing ledge 14 to the lower edge 16 of the support surface member, it being understood that alternative quick and secure temporary connection devices of alternative materials may be utilized in a manner known to a person skilled in the art.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, to facilitate the quick and secure temporary connection of the writing ledge 14 to the lower edge 16 of the support surface member, two or more wood screws 18 protrude a small distance from the lower edge 16 of the support surface member 4 which are adapted to be positioned within the slots 20 and 54 of the writing ledge 14 and the book ledge 50 (more fully described below) respectively. An enlarged view of a wood screw engaging a slot in a writing ledge which is illustrated in FIG. 2.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a book ledge 50 as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 is provided, the book ledge 50 having an upright member 52 for attachment to the lower edge 16 of the support surface member by way of the slots 54 provided therein and positioned to correspond to the position of the wood screws 18 protruding a small distance from the lower edge 16 of the support surface member which as described herein. The book ledge 50 has an upper lip 56 which, as illustrated in FIG. 5 extends substantially perpendicularly to the upright member 52 to enhance the holding characteristics of the book ledge 50 where desirable. The orientation of the book ledge 50 may be reversed and re-attached to the support surface member so that the upper lip 56 extends away from the support surface member 4 if desirable so that the upper lip 56 will not interfere, for example, with the turning of the pages of a book positioned on the support surface member 4.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5, in one embodiment of the present invention, a clipboard-type lever arm clip 6 or other similar device may be securely fastened to the support surface member 4 to provide additional and temporary secure engagement of any documents to the support surface member 4.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a longer writing ledge and a longer book ledge may be provided as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 7 respectively for installation on a wide support surface member having three wood screws 18 protruding a small distance from the lower edge 16 thereof for engagement with the corresponding slots 20 and 54 respectively on the longer writing ledge and a longer book ledge in the manner previously described.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 9, an extra-wide support surface member is illustrated having four wood screws 18 protruding a small distance from the lower edge 16 thereof for engagement with the corresponding slots in two adjacently fastened shortened writing ledges 14 of the type illustrated in FIG. 3C.

By removing the support legs 8 from the selected holes 12, the support leg 8 can by pivoted (as illustrated by the arrow 13 in FIG. 1) within the collars 11 to a position adjacent the underside of the support surface member 4 so that the support surface member 4 can be lowered (that is, rotated within the collars 11 relative to the base 2, as illustrated by the arrow in FIG. 1) into a position proximate the base 2 so that the book and document holding device 1 can be readily stored or moved.

The present invention has been described herein with regard to preferred embodiments. However, it will be obvious to persons skilled in the art that a number of variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as described herein.

Claims

1. A device for holding a document or book, comprising:

a. a base;

b. a support surface member pivotally connected to the base and movable between a storage position and an operative position;

c. means for temporarily securing the support surface member in the operative position;

d. a writing ledge adapted to support the document or book positioned on the support surface member; and

e. means for temporarily attaching the writing ledge to the support surface member, wherein the writing ledge has a least one indentation therein adapted to allow a user of the device to position a hand or forearm within the indentation without interference with the writing ledge.

2. A device according to claim 1 further comprising

a. a book ledge adapted to support the document or book positioned on the support surface member; and

b. means for temporarily attaching the book ledge to the support surface member when the writing ledge is not attached to the support surface member.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein the writing ledge may be oriented in one orientation for use by a right handed user, and may be oriented in another orientation for use by left handed user.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the means for temporarily attaching the writing ledge to the support surface member comprises at least two wood screws protruding a small distance from a lower edge of the support surface member and at least two slots in the writing ledge positioned to receive and temporarily securely engage the at least two wood screws and the lower edge of the support surface member.

5. A device according to claim 2, wherein the means for temporarily attaching the writing ledge to the support surface member comprises at least two wood screws protruding a small distance from a lower edge of the support surface member and at least two slots in the writing ledge positioned to receive and temporarily securely engage the at least two wood screws and the lower edge of the support surface member.

6. A device according to claim 3, wherein the means for temporarily attaching the writing ledge to the support surface member comprises at least two wood screws protruding a small distance from a lower edge of the support surface member and at least two slots in the writing ledge positioned to receive and temporarily securely engage the at least two wood screws and the lower edge of the support surface member.

7. A device according to claim 2, wherein the writing ledge may be oriented in one orientation for use by a right handed user, and may be oriented in another orientation for use by left handed user.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein the means for temporarily attaching the writing ledge to the support surface member comprises at least two wood screws protruding a small distance from a lower edge of the support surface member and at least two slots in the writing ledge positioned to receive and temporarily securely engage the at least two wood screws and the lower edge of the support surface member.