Combination Book Protector And Reading Prop

Abstract

A pair of book-cover-size panels are joined by a flexible web, so that when book is closed one panel overlies each book cover and web overlies book spine. Flaps hinged to upper edges of panels are located against inner surfaces of book cover to connect panels to covers. Panels may be swung rearwardly to serve as book prop. A single flexible band, which may be stretchable, is secured at its ends to the panels, extends around the pages of an opened book, and extends between the flaps at their lower edges, to limit rearward swing of panels, hold pages down, and prevent accidental separation of the device from the book.

Description

This invention relates generally to book accessories, and has particular reference to a combination book protector and reading prop.

In my U.S. Pat. No. 3,339,875 a combination book protector and reading prop is disclosed intended for use with a conventional book having front and rear covers and an intermediate spine. When the device is associated with such a book, it serves as an effective book cover and protector when the book is closed, and can be adjusted to serve as a rear prop for the book when the book is opened. This protector and prop has served, and continues to serve, admirably in practice. However, it has been found that for certain situations a combination book protector and reading prop of simpler construction adequately serves the purpose.

It is therefore a general object of the invention to provide a combination book protector and reading prop of simple construction which is easily applicable to a book, inexpensive from a manufacturing standpoint, and attractive in appearance.

Several features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a combination book protector and reading prop shown in association with a conventional book, the book being in opened and propped condition;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view substantially along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view substantially along the line 3--3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of FIG. 1.

The book chosen for illustration in FIGS. 1-3 has front and back covers 10 and 11, a spine portion 12, and the usual pages 13 bound to the spine 12. The accessory forming the subject of this invention is optionally applicable to the book and comprises a pair of stiff panels 14 and 15, a flexible connector 16 extending between the panels and adapted to extend across the spine 12 when the book is closed, and a means for articulating the panels 14, 15 to the covers 10, 11 of the cook, respectively, along the upper edges. Flexible connector 16 may, as shown, be integral with panels 14 and 15 and joined to the panels along hinge-defining score lines 20, or it may be a separate strip of material having margins overlapping the panels and secured thereto as by adhesive.

The panels 14, 15 have dimensions comparable to those of the book covers themselves, and the connector 16 made to have a width substantially equal to the width of the spine 12 of the book with which the accessory is to be used. It may be convenient to make the panels 14, 15 of rectangular elements of stiff material such as cardboard or the like, and to provide these elements with a covering of relatively thin paper or its equivalent. In the device chosen for illustration, such a thin covering is shown at 17 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) and it is caused to extend across the entire inner and outer surfaces of the intermediate stiff element 18, the outer edge of the latter being also enclosed as indicated at 19.

The articulating means comprises relatively stiff flaps 26 and 27 hinged along their upper edges to the upper edges of panels 14 and 15, respectively. The articulation may be attained by extending the covering layers 17 forwardly over the front and back surfaces of the flaps 26 and 27. This is most clearly shown in FIG. 3, and creates a flexible hinge connection at 29. Each flap 26 and 27 may be made comparable in size to that of the book cover 10 or 11 with which it is associated, although this is not essential.

The device includes a flexible band 21 whose ends are secured to the panels 14 and 15. This securement may be effected, as shown in the drawings, by passing each band end through a hole in its respective panel and then tying a knot 22 at the end to prevent it from passing through the hole. Each hole may be lined by a grommet for strength. The band may have any desired width and may be composed of any suitable material. However, a cord having elastic properties is preferred. The band 21 extends from each of its ends at an angle downwardly and toward flexible connector 16 to a point of connection with the flap 26 or 27 closest to it. In the present example, the connections between band 21 and flaps 26 and 27 are slidable connections defined by a grommet-lined hole 28 near the lower edge of each panel through which band 21 passes freely. However, the connections could be fixed if desired. The outer edge of each flap 26 and 27 may be furnished with a series of notches 30 which serve as positioning means for band 21. These notches are useful in case it is desired to adjust the position of the band portion covering a book page.

Each band portion extending between a knotted end 22 and a hole 28 passes over a corner of open book pages 13, as shown in the drawings, to hold the pages of the book down and thus help to maintain the book in opened condition. This portion also serves as a means for limiting the rearward swinging movement of the panels 14 and 15 when they are adjusted into the book proping position. The band portion extending between holes 28 is positioned beneath the book pages 13 and thus helps to hold flaps 26 and 27 in place and prevent the book covers 10 and 11 from accidentially sliding out from between their respective panels and flaps which would result in disengagement of the device from the book.

The practical nature of the device, and the ease with which it may be used, will be readily apparent. Having chosen a book protector whose flexible connector 16 is comparable to the width of the spine 12 of the book, the user applies the accessory device to the book by swinging prop panels 14 and 15 way from flaps 26 and 27, opening both covers 10 and 11 of the book, and slipping all the book pages (while they are held closed) through the opening defined by the opposed edges 29 of flaps 26 and 27, the upper edge of connector 16, and the portion of band 21 extending between holes 28. Each flap will then be arranged between a cover of the book and the book pages. Band 21 is caused to extend over corners of the open book pages. When the book is closed, the panels 14 and 15 lie closely against the outer faces of the book covers, and serve as protective enclosures. The band 21 may serve as a useful book mark. When the book is opened, it can be propped into the condition shown in the drawings by adjusting the book covers into substantial alignment and then swinging the panels 14 and 15 rearwardly. The extent of this swinging movement is limited by the end regions of the band 21.

It will thus be seen that a device of thoroughly practicable character has been devised, readily adaptable for use with any conventional book to serve as an effective book protector and as a reading prop.

It is to be understood that some of the details herein described and illustrated may obviously be altered by those skilled in the art without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. For use with a conventional book having front and back covers and an intermediate spine to which the pages are bound, a combination book protector and reading prop comprising

a pair of stiff panels having a size comparable to that of the book covers and adapted to be placed against the outer surfaces of the book covers, respectively,

a flexible connector between said panels adapted to extend across the spine of the book,

means articulating the upper edges of said panels in hinged relation to the corresponding upper edges of the book covers, said articulating means comprising

flaps of stiff material hingedly connected to the upper edges of said panels and adapted to lie flat against the inner surfaces of said book covers, respectively,

an opening in each of said flaps,

whereby the panels can overlie and protect the book when it is closed and can be swung rearwardly away from the book covers to serve as props when the book is opened, and

a single flexible band having ends secured to said prop panels, said band extending forwardly from its end and adapted to overlie the pages of an open book, and said band extending through said openings in said flaps, and means for preventing said band from being removed from said openings by movement with respect to said flaps in a direction away from said articulating means, so that said band serves simultaneously (a) to limit the rearward swing of said panels, (b) to hold the book pages down, and (c) to prevent the book covers from accidentally sliding out from between their respective panels and flaps.

2. A combination book protector and reading prop as defined in claim 1 wherein said flexible band is stretchable to permit adjustment of the angle between each book cover and its respective prop when the book is opened.

3. A combination book protector and reading prop as defined in claim 1, in which said flaps are comparable in size to the book covers themselves, the book covers thus being protectively sandwiched between the panels and the flaps when the book is closed.

4. A combination book protector and reading prop as defined in claim 1 wherein said band extends from each of its ends to a point of connection with one of said flaps at the lower edge of the latter, said band extending between each of its ends and said point of connection at an angle downwardly and toward said flexible connector.

5. A combination book protector and reading prop as defined in claim 1 including a sliding connection between said band and each of said flaps at the lower edges of the latter.

6. A combination book protector and reading prop as defined in claim 5 wherein said sliding connection is defined by said opening in each of said flaps through which said band passes.

7. A combination book protector and reading prop as defined in claim 1 including positioning means for said band along the outer edges of said flaps.