Book Supporting Device

Abstract

A book supporting device adapted for use by a person in a reclining position comprising a transparent inclined surface supported between laterally spaced angularly extending support members, the legs of the support members extending into telescopic engagement with the frame thereof and maintained in fixed relation therein by clamp members.

Description

This invention relates generally to book supporting devices and in particular to an improved support adapted for use by individuals when in a reclining position.

Various devices have been utilized to enable bedridden persons to maintain reading material in position for reading when in a supine or semisupine position. The majority of these devices have such a degree of instability that they can be easily dislodged from the bed surface. Further difficulties have been experienced with the complexity of adjusting the device for the proper angle relative to the person's position.

Therefore it is an object of this invention to provide a simple, novel and inexpensive bed-supported reading device adapted to be maintained at the proper angle to a supine person.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bedsupported reading device being fully adjustable with respect to each of the supporting legs.

A further object of this invention is to provide a book supporting device wherein the reading material is maintained by gravity on a transparent surface.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

Broadly stated, one feature of this invention is to provide a book supporting device for use by persons in bed having a simple tubular frame construction with a unitary transparent book supporting shelf suspended thereon with each of the leg members adjustable as to length to conform to any desired position.

To the accomplishment of this and the foregoing related objects, the present invention then consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawings and the following description setting forth in detail certain means in the carrying out of the invention, such disclosed means illustrating, however, but one of the various methods by which the principle of the invention may be employed.

IN THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of the device,

FIG. 2 is a view in rear elevation,

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of the device,

FIG. 4 is a view in perspective, partly in section, of the tongue and groove joint of the frame, and

FIG. 5 is a view in perspective of the clamping mechanism for maintaining the supporting legs within the tubular frame.

Reference is now to be had to the drawings wherein an illustrative embodiment of the supporting device, a construction made in accordance with the present invention and designated by the reference numeral 10, is shown.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, there is shown a pair of straight hollow tubular side members, 12, laterally spaced from each other and having their lower ends, 14, joined by a laterally extending base member 16. The base member 16 has a diameter less than the tubular side members 12 and has arcuate terminations 18 allowing a portion 20 of the base member 16 to slide freely within the end 14, of the tubular side members 12. The upper end 22 has a curvature 24 formed thereon defining an oblique angle and is joined to an obliquely extending rear tubular member 26 by means of a pivot joint 28, as shown in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 4, the pivot joint comprises a tongue member 30 rigidly fixed in the rear tubular member 26 by pin 32 and having one end 34 extending into the upper end 22 of the tubular side members 12, in such a manner that a pin 36, extending through the side walls and an aperture 38 in the end 34 will allow a pivotal action therearound. As shown in FIG. 4, the lower portion of the side wall 40 is chamfered to allow free pivotal action of the rear tubular members as shown in the dotted lines and designated by numeral 26a.

The rear tubular members 26 have a configuration as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 where a pair of bends 41 are formed therein defining a lateral distance between each of the parallel rear tubular members 26 greater than the length of the base member 16, for a purpose to be set forth more fully hereinafter.

Each of the rear tubular members 26 have leg members 42 with ferrules 44 at the distal ends thereof, the leg members having a diameter less than the interior of the tubular members 26 and adapted for sliding telescopic engagement therein.

Clamp members 46 as shown in FIG. 5, comprising a circular band 48, compressible in response to the action of a springloaded actuating member 50, are fitted around each of the lower ends of the rear tubular members 26 so as to hold the leg members 42 at a fixed position within the tubular members 26.

The book support member 52 comprises a unitary transparent plastic member 53 extending between the parallel side tubular members 12 and supported therebetween by screw members 54 extending through blocks 56 attached to the surface of the plastic member 53 and into the side tubular members 12. A shelf portion 58 is formed at the lower edge 60 thereof, having a width sufficient to accommodate a book 62. Cutout portions 64 extend upward from the lower edge 60 and toward the side edges 66 of the plastic member to allow access from one surface of the plastic member 53 to the other.

The purpose of having the rear tubular members extending outward of the lateral distance defined by the base member 16 is to provide complete freedom of the shoulders and arms of the reader while the device is in position.

In this manner, a book 62, placed on the surface of the transparent plastic member 53, can be read by the person through the transparent plastic member 53 and the cutout portions 64 allow easy access to the book for the purpose of turning the pages.

While there have been described herein what I at present consider preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the essence of the invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that the exemplary embodiments are illustrative and not restrictive of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims, and that all modifications that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be included therein.

Claims

I claim:

1. A book support device, including:

a. a pair of laterally spaced side members,

b. a base member extending normal to said side members having distal ends telescopically engaging said side members,

c. a transparent support member suspended between said side members and secured thereto,

d. a pair of laterally spaced rear support members pivotally engaged with said side members and angularly extending therefrom,

e. the distal ends of said base member and said leg members maintained in relative position within the side members and rear members by clasp means,

f. the distance between said rear support members in excess of the base member,

g. and leg members telescopically adjustable within said rear support members.

2. A book support device, including:

a. a pair of laterally spaced side members,

b. a base member extending normal to said side members having distal ends telescopically engaging said side members,

c. a transparent support member suspended between said side members and secured thereto,

d. a pair of laterally spaced rear support members pivotally engaged with said side members and angularly extending therefrom,

e. said rear support members are pivotally engaged with said side members by a tongue member secured within the rear support member and having an apertured plate extending into the side members and pivotally secured therein by a pin member,

f. the distance between said rear support members in excess of the base member,

g. and leg members telescopically adjustable within said rear support members.