U.S. patent number 3,894,709 [Application Number 05/390,056] was granted by the patent office on 1975-07-15 for reading tables.
Invention is credited to Stanley M. Weir.
United States Patent |
3,894,709 |
Weir |
July 15, 1975 |
Reading tables
Abstract
A reading table arranged for support on a bed, chair or floor
including a table top with members for holding a book or other
reading matter thereon, the top mounted for changed inclination,
lateral and vertical positions relative to upright legs and
supporting feet, each of the latter being arranged for adjustment
to vary disposition of the table top and to enable fold-up into a
storage position.
Inventors: |
Weir; Stanley M. (Santa Clara,
CA) |
Family
ID: |
23540851 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/390,056 |
Filed: |
August 20, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/445;
108/49 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B
23/007 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47B
23/00 (20060101); A47F 005/12 (); A47B
023/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;108/46,43,49
;248/444,445,457,124 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Nunberg; Casmir A.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A reading table which comprises:
a table top,
a pair of legs each with a foot projecting outwardly from its lower
extremity,
a horizontal crosspiece pivotally connected at each of its opposite
ends to the upper extremity of a leg,
means for locking said legs in adjusted disposition around the axis
of said crosspiece,
an arm projecting outwardly from the crosspiece, said arm free at
one end to slide along the length of the crosspiece,
means for pivoting the arm in unison with the crosspiece around the
axis of the crosspiece,
said arm pivotally connected at its other end to the table top,
and
means for reasonably locking said table top in adjusted angles
relative to the arm.
2. A reading table with foldable legs which comprises:
a table top,
a pair of equal length legs each with a foot pivotally connected to
its lower extremity,
means for connecting the upper extremity of said legs to the table
top,
a pair of elongated braces pivotally connected at their lower
extremities to opposite feet,
means for locking the upper extremites of the braces to at least
one pair of points on opposite legs to form equal leg-to-foot
angles.
3. A reading table with foldable legs which comprises:
a table top,
a pair of equal length legs each with a foot pivotally connected to
its lower extremity,
means for connecting the upper extremity of said legs to the table
top.
a pair of elongated braces pivotally connected at their upper
extremities to opposite legs, and
means for locking the lower extremities of the braces to at least
one pair of points on opposite feet to form equal leg-to-foot
angles.
Description
REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS
951,145 3/1910 McGenniss 108/43X 1,035,290 8/1912 Wood 248/444
1,232,757 7/1917 Berkley 108/46 1,797,847 3/1931 Vandagriff 108/49
1,862,237 6/1932 Popler 108/49 2,193,907 3/1940 Love 248/445
2,480,233 8/1949 Fuller 108/4 2,692,806 10/1954 Grace 108/93X
2,908,465 10/1959 Lykes 248/445X 3,167,036 1/1965 Brossard 108/4
3,698,328 10/1972 Weir 108/6
This invention relates to a table for facilitating reading of
books, magazines and other reading matter. The table may also serve
any other purpose for which it is found useful.
One important objective of the present invention is to permit
placement of a book at any convient height for reading.
Another object of importance is to permit placement of a book at
any desired inclination for reading.
Another object of importance is to provide means for moving a book
sideways so that either page of an open book may be placed in front
of the reader.
Another object of importance is to permit a book to be placed at
any convient distance from the reader.
Another object of importance is to provide holdown members for
holding books of different sizes and thicknesses open on a table
top, yet permit unobstructed view of reading matter and easy
turning of pages even when a book on the table top is turned
up-side-down.
Another object or importance is to provide readers with the means
for supporting reading matter for readers who read while lying
down.
Another object of importance is to provide a table that is light
weight and may be folded into a compact bundle to facilitate
portability and storage.
Other objects of importance will appear from the following
description, the claims appended thereto, and from the annexed
drawings in which like reference characters designate like parts
throughout the several views and wherein FIGS. 1 and 2 show two
different means for holding a book on the table top.
FIG. 1 is a frontal view showing means No. 1 for holding a book on
a reading table top.
FIG. 2 is a frontal view showing means No. 2 for holding a book on
a reading table top.
FIG. 3 is a side elevational crossection view taken along line A--A
of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a top view of FIG. 2.
The remaining FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 show means No. 1 for holding a book
on the table top.
FIG. 5 is a back elevational view of the reading table.
FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the reading table.
FIG. 7 shows the reading table in the process of being collapsed
into its fold-up position for storage.
The preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 1 and
FIGS. 5 thru 7 wherein the table is constructed as follows:
The table top 1 may be formed from a single rectaugular sheet of
masonite. Fastened to the top 1 along one edge are ledges 2 that
prevent books and other reading matter placed on the table top from
sliding off when the top is inclined. Ledges 2 are lengths of
extruded angles, one side of the angle being fastened to the back
of this top 1 near its edge and the other side protruding outward
at a right angle to the table top edge to form a ledge.
Elastic straps 3 are used for holding a book, or other reading
matter down on table top 1. If a book is to be read when turned
up-side-down, its top cover is slid under the center strap and the
other two straps are placed across book covers as illustrated.
These latter two straps are threaded through beads 4 which may be
slid to any position along the straps 3 and are used to reduce
friction of straps on book pages. A strap 3 consists of a length of
flat-elastic joined at its ends to form a loop. These straps
furnish the streach necessary to accomodate books of varying
thicknesses.
To turn pages, the reader lifts up on the upper corner of the
right-hand page. This causes the lower corner of the page to slide
out from under the right-hand strap streached across the lower
right-hand corner of the book. The page is turned and this corner
is slid under the left-hand strap streached across the lower
left-hand corner of the book. If the page corner will not slide
under the left-hand strap, the strap is lifted by the left hand as
the right hand slides the corner of the page under it. The table
top 1 is fastened to a U-shaped bracket 11. Bracket 11 is pivotally
connected to one end of arm 14, which is a rectangular block of
wood. Legs of bracket 11 straddled an end of block 14. A bolt 12
passes through a hole in each bracket leg and a hole through end of
block 14. Bolt 12 serves as an axis around which bracket 11 can
pivot to permit changing the inclination of table top 1 relative to
arm 14. A wing-nut 13 is screwed onto one end of bolt 12. The
tightening or loosening of wing-nut 13 increases or decreases the
friction between bracket 11 and arm block 14 thereby increasing or
decreasing the resistance to changing the inclination of the table
top.
Arm 14 is slidably connected to shoulder 17. Shoulder 17 is a
square tube. Channel 15 surrounds square-tube-shoulder 17 on three
sides and is fastened to arm 14 on the fourth side by rivets 16.
Sufficient clearance is left between square-tube-shoulder 17 and
channel 15 to permit the channel to slide along shoulder 17 when
table top 1 is pushed sideways left or right.
Square-tube-shoulder 17 is pivotally connected at each end to leg
20. Bolt 18 which passes through a hole near the top end of each
leg 20 and through the center of shoulder 17 serves as an axis
around which shoulder 17 can pivot. When arm 14 is swing up or
down, shoulder 17 pivots about bolt 18. A wing-nut 19 when screwed
in or out on bolt 18 increases or decreases the friction between
legs 20 and shoulder 17 thereby increasing or decreasing the
resistance to changing the inclination of arm 14 relative to the
legs and therefore the height of the reading table top 1 is
changed.
Pivotally connected to each leg 20 is a foot 21. Axis of the pivot
for each leg is rivet 22 which passes through a hole near one end
of each leg 20 and foot 21. A wire brace 23 holds each leg in an
upright position. One end of each wire brace 23 which is formed in
a Z-shape, fits at one end in a hole in a leg 20 and its other end
fits in a hole in foot 21. When one end of a brace 23 is slipped
out of hole in a leg 20, the leg and foot can be collapsed to a
fold up position as illustrated by FIG. 7.
FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 illustrate means No. 2 for holding a book on
table top 1 wherein the table top and book holding means is
constructed as follows:
The table top may be formed from a single rectangular sheet of
masonite. Fastened to the back of table top 1 along one edge is
rectangular molding 10. Fastened to a side of molding 10 is a ledge
5 that prevents books and other reading matter placed on the table
top from sliding off when the top is inclined. Ledge 5 is a thin
extruded rectangular bar that extends outward at a right-angle to
the table top to form a ledge.
Rod 6 is used to hold the center-line along binding of an open book
from falling off table top 1 when the top is facing in a downward
direction. As illustrated in FIG. 3, rod 6 is parallel to and
spaced a short distance from table top 1. Rod 6 is perpendicular to
and passes through a hole in ledge 5 then bends at a right angle to
the top 1 and is fastened to the underside of ledge 5. When placing
a book on the reading table top 1, the book is opened and its
center is slid between rod 6 and table top 1 until the lower edge
of its cover comes to rest on ledge 5.
As illustrated by FIGS. 2 and 3, two oppositely disposed page
hold-down finger ensembles are used to hold pages of a book down. A
page hold-down finger ensemble is an assembly of four parts
consisting of a transparent elongated bar finger 7, a rod 8 and two
fasteners 9 which are pushnut fasteners part number PS 250385
manufactured by Palnut . . . a Division of United Carr Inc. The rod
8 passes through a hole in one end of finger 7. Finger 7 is held in
place near one end and perpendicular to rod 8 by pushnut fasteners
(flat round type) 9 which are pushed on rod 8 from opposite ends
until they sandwich finger 7 between them. Due to their
construction, fasteners 9 can not be backed-off rod 8. Rod 8 at its
end opposite where finger 7 is attached is slidably and rotatably
held in a hole whose axis passes at an angle through table top 1
and rectangular molding 10. As finger rods 8 emerge from holes
through top 1 and molding 10, they slant toward each other so that
fingers 7 when pointing toward each other also point inward toward
center of ledge 5. This finger slant-in construction is to provide
the means for holding fingers 7 in the position that they are
placed. When a rod 8 is manually pushed into its associated hole,
finger 7 moves toward then makes contact with a page of an open
book. When rod 8 is pushed further into its hole, the finger
pressure on the page is increased. FIG. 7 is made of transparent
acrytic plastic so that as it is pressed against a page, it acts as
a flat spring that cocks rod 8 in its hole causing it to bind in
the hole. Rod 8 therefore holds in the hole position in which it is
placed so long as there is pressure on finger 7. When table top 1
is facing downward, the weight of book pages against fingers 7
create the aforementioned pressure-spring-action causing rods 8 to
stay in the hole positions placed.
When loading a book a book on the table top 1, fingers 7 are
rotated outward away from the center of the top. Once a book has
been placed in an upright position on the ledge 5 its center behind
rod 6 as previously described, fingers are rotated back to the
desired page hold-down positions. Finger 7 pressure on pages may be
increased by pushing on one end of rod 8 and reduced by pushing on
the opposite end of rod 8. It is noted that the page hold-down
construction described permits hold-down finger ensembles to be
quickly and easily adjusted to accomodate different page stack
thicknesses as well as pressure of a finger on a stack of
pages.
The procedure for turning pages is as follows: The reader picks-up
the upper right hand corner of a book page with the thumb and
forefinger of his left hand while his right hand rotates rod 8 so
that righthand page hold-down finger 7 is rotated outward until it
clears the page, then back again under this top page to the desired
hold-down position on the page below. The page is turned with the
left hand then held down by the right hand while the reader's left
hand is used to rotate the lefthand page hold-down finger first out
away from the underlying page, then back on top of the page just
turned and brought to rest again in the desired hold-down position.
The above described reading table and bookholding means facilitate
reading by making it unnecessary to hold a book while reading
whether the reader is sitting up or lying down and provides the
flexibility required to rapidly position a book as eyes move from
top of page to bottom and from one page to the next. As a reader
reads from top of page to bottom, the top may first be brought
closer to the eyes by tilting the upper portion of the table top
closer to the eyes. As the eyes move toward the bottom of the page,
the lower portion of the page may be brought closer by tilting the
table top in the opposite direction. This action is facilitated by
wing nut 13 which may be turned to a setting just tight enough to
provide the right amount of arm block 14 to bracket 11 friction or
pressure required to permit changing of the table top inclination,
yet hold it in the position set. When a reader moves from one page
to another, the top may be quickly slid sideways to bring a new
page into convient reading position. Pages are easily turned.
Reading tables of which I have a knowledge, except for my invention
U.S. Pat. No. 3,698,328 issued Oct. 17, 1972, do not provide the
combination of features described above for facilitating reading
and permiting the table to be folded-up for storage and
portability. The present invention represents an improvement over
my former invention U.S. Pat. No. 3,698,328 in the following
respects:
1. The vertical height of the table top can be more easily adjusted
up or down. To change table top vertical height my former invention
requires the independent adjustment of two separate legs, each
adjustment requiring the steps of (1) loosening a knurled-lock-nut
(2) changing the length of a telescoping leg and (3) tightening the
knurled-lock-nut. In the present invention, the height adjustment
arm 14 may be swung up or down merely by pushing up or down on top
1. This action is facilitated by wing-nut 19 which may be turned to
a setting just tight enough to provide the right amount of shoulder
17 to leg 20 friction required to permit changing of the table top
height, yet hold it in the position set.
2. Construction of table legs and feet are considerably simplified
by the present invention compared to my former reading table
invention U.S. Pat. No. 3,698,328.
3. The table top of my former reading table invention is very
limited with respect to how far it can be inclined because it can
only be inclined slightly toward the facing down position before
further inclination in this direction is obstructed by the table's
own legs. In the present invention, arm 14 holds the table top 1
out away from legs 20 so that the top can be inclined to a
completely up-side-down position if desired.
4 Fold-up of the present invention is quicker and easier to
understand since it works on a simple four-fold principle whereas
my former reading table invention requires a combination of
four-fold, collapsing of telescoping legs and rotation of feet to
achieve a fold-up position.
5. Book hold-down straps 3 are of simpler construction than those
of my former reading table invention since each strap consists of a
simple flat elastic loop whereas each strap of my former invention
consisted of three components (1) a cord (2) spring and (3)
hooks.
Furthermore some features illustrated and described in my previous
reading table invention U.S. Pat. No. 3,698,328 were not claimed
and therefore are included in the claims below. It is believed
apparent that the present invention is not necessarily confined to
the specific use described above since it may to utilized for any
purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the invention recessarily
limited to the specific construction illustrated and described,
since such construction is only intended to be illustrative of the
principles of operation, it being considered that the invention
comprehends any minor change.
* * * * *