U.S. patent application number 10/307527 was filed with the patent office on 2003-08-28 for easy reader versatile podium.
Invention is credited to Guadagnini, Gene M..
Application Number | 20030160144 10/307527 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27757515 |
Filed Date | 2003-08-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030160144 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Guadagnini, Gene M. |
August 28, 2003 |
Easy reader versatile podium
Abstract
Those skilled in the art may discover that various adaptations
or modifications of this described preferred embodiment may be
altered without departing from the scope or spirit of the
invention. Therefore, within the scope of these stated claims, this
invention may be practiced other than as uniquely described
herein.
Inventors: |
Guadagnini, Gene M.;
(Coarsegold, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Gene Michelle Guadagnini
35647 Hwy 41
Coarsegold
CA
93614
US
|
Family ID: |
27757515 |
Appl. No.: |
10/307527 |
Filed: |
February 26, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/447 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 19/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/447 |
International
Class: |
A47B 097/04 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An easy to use versatile podium with a main purpose of
supporting books and reading materials upside-down while lying in
bed, wherein the podium can be easily assembled and disassembled,
the podium comprising: a platform rectangular in shape providing a
flat tray when assembled and having four side edges, a front, back
and two side edges; two parallel vertical rails attaching a
pivotally rotated string clamp positioned to lie just above and
parallel to the platform; a lockable hand screw hinge attaching the
platform to a second protruding rod attaching a second lockable
hand screw hinge; a lockable retainer for sliding and pivotally
retaining the entire platform and protruding hinge assembly; a
collapsible horizontal shaft engaging with the retainer so that the
disassembled podium can be assembled by sliding the top stand bar
in a telescoping fashion parallel to the platform and perpendicular
to the protruding hinge assembly; an adjustable stand supporting
the entire projection hinge assembly and platform.
2. The versatile podium of claim 1, wherein the retention means
comprises a single projection from the retainer, the projection
running perpendicular and attaching to the rear edge of the
platform.
3. The versatile podium of claim 2, where in the projection is
comprised of three discontinuous members attached with a screw at
their ends forming two hinge points.
4. The versatile podium of claim 3, wherein the hinge points
contain adjustable hand locking screws that lock the individual
sections of the discontinuous projection along with the attached
platform at its end.
5. The versatile podium of claim 2, wherein the pivotal retainer is
attached to the top horizontal stand bar oriented parallel to the
platform and perpendicular to the projection hinge assembly.
6. The versatile podium of claim 5, wherein the top stand bar is
supported by a vertically adjustable leg fastened with riveted
metal tabs and further supported by metal corner stirrups that
slide into holes near the ends of the stand leg.
7. The versatile podium of claim 6, wherein the leg adjusts in a
telescoping fashion and is supported by a riveted foot and
accompanying stabilizers.
8. A versatile podium for supporting books or literature, wherein
the podium can be easily assembled and disassembled, the podium
comprising: a platform forming a flat tray when the podium is
assembled and providing support for books or papers; two parallel
vertically oriented rails attaching a spring-loaded string clamp
located above the platform; an adjustable projection for attaching
the platform to the pivotal retainer; a pivotal retainer for
attaching the entire projection hinge assembly and platform to the
stand.
9. The versatile podium of claim 8, wherein the projection is
attached and oriented perpendicularly to the center of the rear
edge of the platform.
Description
[0001]
1 References Cited U.S. Patent Documents December, 1977 Albertson
5/482 September, 1992 Rudy 5/507.1
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention generally relates to podiums for the support
of books or other literature for the common reader or studier and,
more specifically, to such a device that can be used while lying in
bed or sitting in a chair and can easily be collapsed into a small,
compact, lightweight package for easy transit or storage. Many
people tend to retire to their bed or easy chair to read before
falling asleep. Others like students find the need to study in bed.
Such an activity requires the continuous holding of reading
material for long periods of time and can be tiresome and very
uncomfortable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A typical podium provides a way to hold a speaker's reading
materials. Generally, the podium stands upright in front of the
speaker and has a slanted top surface that supports papers at a
convenient angle for the speaker to quickly glance at. U.S. Pat.
No. Des. 320,319 to Brothers et al. illustrates a typical podium
with an inclined support surface that holds books and papers at a
convenient angle. Although this design is useful, it suffers from a
lack of versatility and can't be folded away to save space when not
in use. Furthermore, none of these podiums are simple enough to use
while lying in bed. A casual night reader or student would have no
means to support his literature while lying down. He would
therefore have to toss and turn to find a comfortable holding
position for his reading material and would tend to tire more
quickly from doing so.
[0004] In addressing this problem, Rudy, U.S. Pat. No. 5,245,717
provides a sleeve with an interior passageway for inserting a
person's arms. This allows the reader to support his arm while
holding the reading material and simultaneously providing heat to
them as well. Such a device can be awkward and cumbersome and does
not function without the continual commitment of the hands and arms
in a stressful stationary position for long periods of time. There
is also the further cost of batteries or the hassle of plugging in
an electrical cord to run the blanket heater.
INVENTION SUMMARY
[0005] Provided is a versatile podium which includes a platform and
a pivotal material clamp for holding a book or literature firmly
such that reading can take place in nearly any position as well as
lying on one's backside in the sleeping position. In this regard
the article can embrace the literature firmly such that the user
may read completely hands free even in an upwardly position while
lying in bed. The invention is useful in providing comfort and can
even aid in the sleep process. Since reading can now be achieved
while lying flat on the user's backside, sleep can take place at
any moment without any other movement or adjustment of the body.
Furthermore, bodily sleep on a person's backside is medically
considered the most optimal position for relaxation of the body's
joints, spine, muscles and nerves. With this invention problems in
the art are finally solved. No longer need there be the discomfort
of supporting reading materials while lying down or sitting. Even
warmth of the arms, hands and shoulders can be achieved naturally
by simply lying in bed under the blankets. The solutions presented
here are for the delight of the common user.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The purpose and usefulness of this invention will become
apparent upon reference to the following detailed description and
accompanying drawings.
[0007] The following description will use reference numerals to
designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and
wherein:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the assembled podium;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the collapsed podium with
all accompanying parts;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a single adjustable length
leg and is representative of every adjustable length rod on the
podium;
[0011] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the adjustable leg of FIG. 3
that illustrates the inner design of all adjustable rods in the
podium;
[0012] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a typical book clamp internal
spring assembly;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the closed assembly in FIG.
5 with the nylon tension line and its accompanying adjustable
support rods.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] The following description is intended to assist any
manufacturer or user in understanding the invention's structure and
design in order set forth the best modes contemplated by the
inventor for carrying out this invention to its highest potential.
Other modifications to this design will remain apparent to those
skilled in the art, since the generic principles of this invention
have been described herein specifically to provide a handy,
lightweight versatile podium. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the
assembled podium is comprised of four main parts: a platform 16, a
horizontal support bar 12, a leg 11 and a foot bar 9. All the parts
of the podium are tubular rods 11, 12 with the exception of the
flat panel 16 with clamp assembly 19 and projection assembly 14.
They can be made out of numerous different materials such as
plastic, aluminum or carbon fiber composites. Since the object of
the present invention is intended to be lightweight the preferred
embodiment uses mainly plastic such as ABS with the exception of
the panel 16 and the clamp assembly 19 that require extra strength
materials like aluminum. When assembled, the podium can stand over
a bed or an easy chair since the foot 9 and foot stabilizers 21
form, as seen from above, a very stable "H" shaped construction
that mates with the floor and leg 11. The length of the leg 11 can
be easily adjusted to a convenient height by simply sliding it in a
telescoping manner. The pivotal retainer 13 and projection assembly
14 that embrace the panel 16 can be rotated to any convenient
reading angle by loosening the adjustment screws 15 and
retightening them again in the preferred reading position.
Furthermore, the pivotal retainer 13 and projection assembly 14
have the freedom to rotate with the panel 16 to any angle within a
360 degree radius around the horizontal support bar 12 to allow
users the convenience of reading while lying on one's back side in
bed. The spring-loaded material clamp assembly 19 will firmly hold
books or reading material in place in any chosen position. If used
outdoors, the spring-loaded material clamp assembly 19 holds papers
securely for adequate wind protection. All individual components
are fastened with hand locking adjustment screws 15,18 and are
simple to unscrew for easy disassembly or reassembly. The corner
support stirrups 10 are the only components that use no screws or
rivets since they are simply inserted into alignment holes located
between the foot 9 and leg 11 and at the upper corner of the
apparatus as shown in FIG. 1. Their purpose is to ensure stability
in the assembled position. Portability is an important feature of
this podium. As shown in FIG. 2, the parts of the podium are mainly
composed of tubular rods sized for convenient disassembly and
collapsed into a small bundle for easy transit and storage. When
disassembling the podium, the two comer stirrups 10 must be removed
and the adjustment screws 15 loosened before folding the podium.
Once folded, it is advisable to compress the leg 11 and the
horizontal support bar 12 so that the over all length of the
dissembled podium can be minimized for convenient storage or
placement in a carrying bag or vehicle for transport. To accomplish
this one must remove the lock pin 8 and compressing the horizontal
support bar 12 in a telescoping manner. Finally the panel 16 along
with the attached material clamp assembly 19 may be stored
separately or positioned securely with the other parts. As can be
seen in FIG. 2, the assembly and disassembly processes are simple
operations since the entire podium including the foot 9, leg 11,
and the horizontal support bar 12 are never separated, but remain
affixed in their appropriate locations to prevent any mix-up or
confusion among assembled components. Assembly is simply the
reverse process of the above description. The collapsed podium is
simply lifted by the top horizontal support bar 12 while the foot 9
is rotated to lie underneath the panel 16 and parallel to the
floor. Temporary physical support must be provided in assembly to
support the horizontal support bar 12 until the two comer stirrups
10 are reinserted and the foot stabilizers 21 are positioned and
tightened with wing nuts 22 as shown in FIG. 1. Once the podium is
self-supported the leg 11 and horizontal support bar 12 may be
adjusted for the most convenient height and width. In order to set
the width one must slide the horizontal support bar 12 in a
telescoping manner and then insert the locking pin 8 into the most
convenient hole 24. The final step in assembly is the tightening
and adjusting of the projection assembly screws 15 in order to
position the panel 16 for the most comfortable reading position. In
the assembled position, FIG. 1 shows that the back edge of the
panel 16 is attached to the pivotal retainer 13 and projection
assembly 14 with two easy locking projection assembly adjustment
screws 15. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the material clamp 19 slides
tightly along support rails 17 which position the entire material
clamp assembly 19 to lie just above the panel 16 while sustaining
adequate vertical separation between the panel 16 and the clamp
assembly 19 to allow room for reading material. The leg 11 and
horizontal support bar 12 are made to telescope in or out to adjust
the podium's height or width as shown in FIG. 3 and the view is
exploded in FIG. 4 to illustrate its internal extension limiting
design. The leg 11 is attached firmly at a right angle to the end
of the horizontal support bar 12 through a set of riveted metal
tabs 23 and further secured with corner support stirrup 10 as
shown. The foot 9 is attached at a right angle to the leg with
metal tabs 23 and further supported with comer support stirrup 10
to ensure stability. The leg 11 is not locked in position but
rather allowed to pivot about joint 7 at any time for extra
versatility. When in use, the flat panel 16 is used to support a
book by rotating the spring-loaded material clamp assembly 19
clockwise and then lifting the book binding support wire 20 to
allow enough clearance for its placement. Once in position, the
front end of the binding support wire 20 is pressed to snap and
mate security with the front edge of the panel 16 to support the
book securely between its binding and the flat surface of the panel
16. Once secured and the preferred page opened, the material clamp
assembly 16 can be released and allowed to rotate counter clockwise
until the material tension line 27 presses the pages of the book
tightly so that reading may take place in nearly any position. When
turning pages the material clamp assembly 19 is simply rotated to
allow access and then released to re-clamp the pages in the opened
reading position. When using flat or loose pages, the book binding
support wire 20 may be removed so that papers can be firmly held in
place solely by the material clamp assembly 19 and tension line 27.
The assembled material clamp assembly 19 shown in FIG. 6 is
composed of a tension line 27 tied at each end to adjustable
fasteners 25 that lock perpendicularly to the spring-loaded pivot
rod 26 while maintaining adequate parallel separation between the
tension line 27 and the pivot rod 26. The tension line 27 can be
made from nylon or metal and must be thin to avoid any visual
obstruction of words. The rest of the material clamp assembly 19
should be made from a metal such as aluminum for rigidity and
strength. FIG. 5 shows a typical internal design of the
spring-loaded clamp assembly 19.
* * * * *