Book-holder

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is an innovative book holder/positioning device useful for loose-leaf binders and hard cover books.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A loose-leaf binder is a type of binder which normally has a U-shaped cover. Inside the cover, it contains sleeves on which single punched pages can be filed, easily removed, or exchanged.

Loose-leaf binders are often used for publications that need to be updated frequently such as manuals, laws and regulations. They are common work equipment in many different types of businesses. Typically, loose-leaf binders are opened next to or behind the main work space so that the reader has access to the text, while keeping the immediate workspace free for other tasks. To make the text clearly visible and comfortable to view, it is important that the binder can be positioned at an desired angle.

Hardcover books usually consist of bound pages (the so called book block), and a bookcover, whereby the book block is attached to the cover with a special header. This technique results in a hollow space along the spine of the book, between the bookblock and cover.

The current binder holders on the market today use a rectangular flat piece of metal which is angled so that two identical blades achieve a 90 degree angle. To operate it, one blade is inserted from the top into the hollow space between the spine and loose leaf pages, so that the second load bearing blade sticks out of the back of the binder. Then the binder is tilted back into position. This device has many drawbacks. The load bearing blade that sticks out of the back needs a lot of space on the desk, and will not fit on a small desk. The blade also meets the table at a sharp point. It is not very stable, and when too much force is applied, it can cause scratches on the desktop. When this device is used with binders of different height, the reading angle in each case is different. Therefore, to achieve optimal reading angle, the length of the load bearing blade must be adjusted.

For hardcover books, the only device available in the market is a large book-sized panel, where the book slides in. These devices also have many drawbacks. They are large, obtrusive, heavy, and hide the cover of the book.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The device according to the invention also uses a flat plate which can be bent to any desired angle and thereby provides for two blades which form an angle of about 20-85 degrees. Since the device is inserted at the base of the book or binder and slips upward into the hollow space, the predetermined reading angle remains, regardless the size of the book or binder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows one possible plate for the bookholder prior to bending where 1 means the first blade that will be inserted into the hollow space of a book or binder and 2 means the load bearing second blade. Along the line A-B the device can be bent to any desired angle;

FIG. 2 shows a second possible plate for the bookholder like FIG. 1 but with an oval shaped load bearing second blade;

FIG. 3 shows a third possible plate for the bookholder like FIG. 1 but with an circular shaped load bearing second blade;

FIG. 4 shows the angled bookholder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows the angled bookholder of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 shows the angled bookholder of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 show bookholders with differently angled and designed second blades;

FIG. 10 shows a bookholder with a tripartite first blade;

FIG. 11 shows elastic elements 3 and 3′ which protrude the first blade and adjust to the width of the spine of the book;

FIGS. 12 and 13 show a bookholder with an elastic element 4 which possesses loops 5 which fit to the width of the first blade 1 and is thereby movably connected to the first blade.

FIG. 14 shows a rectangular fixture 6 attached to a relatively narrow first blade to broaden the width to two different sizes, whereby 6′ shows a vertical and 6″ shows a horizontal position;

FIG. 15 shows one possible solution to attach fixture 6 to the first blade, whereby fixture 6 possesses a mount which fits to the width of the first blade;

FIGS. 16 and 17 show alternative solutions for attaching a fixture 6 to the first blade 1 using buttons 8 and buttonholes 9;

FIG. 18 shows a bookholder with a split first blade;

FIG. 19 shows a bookholder with a wide second blade and a narrow first blade;

FIG. 20 shows integrated anti-scratch and anti-skid feet 10;

FIG. 21 shows a further designed fixture with a hollow space which fits to the width of the first blade;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following descriptions of the preferred embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the precise forms disclosed, but instead are intended to be illustrative of the principles of the invention so that others may follow its teachings.

The disadvantages of existing devices are avoided with this invention according to the following product specifications:

• 1) Since the first blade of the inventive device is inserted at the base of the book or binder and upward into the hollow space, the reading angle is determined by the bend of the device and remains the same regardless the size of the book or binder. This angle is chosen in the range of about 20-85 degrees, preferably in the range of about 40-70 degrees.
• 2) With this device inserted in the spine, the entire cover of the book remains visible and the whole device needs much less space than a conventional bookholder.
• 3) Since this invention is inserted from the base of the book or binder, the load bearing second blade lays flat on the desk. Therefore, the blade can be easily pushed under other desk materials, and doesn't have a sharp edge which can damage desks. Even in the bent models shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 the second blade meets the desktop so that the weight is evenly spread over two straight lines.
• 4) Because the first blade is inserted into the spine of the book or binder, its dimensions need to be adjusted to it. This means that the first blade needs to have a mostly rectangular form with a width that should not fall below approximately 10 millimeters to provide the necessary stability. The maximum width is determined by the width of the spine of the book or binder, which normally is not wider than approximately 60 to 100 millimeters. To achieve stability, the length of the first blade should not fall below approximately ½ of the height of the book or binder. If the length of the first blade happens to be longer than the height of the book, this will not be a problem. The blade will simply stick out through the top.
• 5) Whereas the first blade must be adapted to the dimensions of the book or binder, one has more freedom in choosing the dimensions of the second blade and it can easily be optimized regarding stability, but also regarding aesthetic appearance. For example, the first blade can be narrow to fit smaller books but nevertheless the device gets stability with a broader second blade. Dimensions can be altered for aesthetic purposes as well, such as choosing a trapezoid, oval or round second blade, which has the width of the first blade on the angleside and gets progressively wider to reach optimum stability.
• 6) The form of the second blade itself is not critical and will be rectangular in its basic form. It can also be circular, oval, a polygon, or a picture figure. No matter what shape the load bearing blade takes, the only criteria that is important is making sure the proper stability.

Also, whatever design is chosen, all sharp corners and angles should be rounded to avoid injury or scratches.

• 7) At the ends, where the second blade hits the desktop, small plastic or rubber feet can be inserted to avoid scratching and skidding, like shown in FIG. 20.
• 8) With regard to length of the second blade, it is important that the center of gravity of the book or binder does not fall behind the end of the second blade. The lengths should not fall below approximately 100 to 120 millimeters. Favored is a length of approximately 130 to 170 millimeters. The width should at least equal the width of the first blade. The favored width of the load bearing second blade is therefor approximately 60 to 100 millimeters to approximately 130 to 170 millimeters.
• 9) With regard to the choice of the material, technical as well as aesthetic criteria become important. The book holder material needs to be strong enough so that it does not break or deform under the weight of a possibly very heavy book or binder. However, a certain degree of elasticity can be desirable. For stability reasons metal is favored, and for aesthetic reasons stainless steel or aluminum in particular. Even high-quality plastics like nylon can reach the stability criteria and have the advantage to be light and are less expensive to produce.
• 10) The maximum thickness of the first blade is limited to the size of the hollow space between the bookblock and the bookcover (for binders the distance between the cover and the pages) in which the first blade of the book holder is to be placed, and should not exceed approximately 3 millimeters. In the case of plastic this thickness is needed to provide he necessary stability, whereas in the case of stainless steel, the thickness can be significantly lower in the range of about 1 to 2 millimeters, more specifically of about 1.5 millimeters.
• 11) Since the size of the first blade should be as wide as possible to provide maximum stability and as narrow as possible to fit into the hollow space of books, the blade can be parted, f.e. tripartite, as shown in FIG. 10. The middle blade can be put into thinner books where the outer blades hold the book additionally. For thicker books two or all blades can be put into the hollow space.
• 12) A rigid first blade has the disadvantage that only books can be used that have at least the thickness of the widths of the blade and considerable thicker books could topple sideways. These disadvantages can be overcome by using a construction where the width of the first blade is variable and can be adjusted to different book sizes. Different solutions are possible:
• 13) One possible solution is shown in FIG. 11. The width of the first blade is chosen narrow so that it fits thin books. For good hold of thicker books a solid metal or plastic wire 3 is so attached to the blade that it is fixed in the center and ovally or circularly curved. This wire can be compressed and after putting the blade into the spine of a book it expands into the edges of of the spine so that the book is hold in a centered and solid position. A further solution is shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. This solution shows a wire 4 that is not firmly attached to the blade but is equipped with rectangular loops 5 on top and bottom that relate to the cross-section of the first blade and can be put onto it. At the lower end of the blade the wire finds its rest as soon as it meets the second blade. The position on top remains variable. When the wire is compressed and put into the spine of a book it expands in an oval motion upward but is hold in the center by the loops. So books of all sizes find solid stand on the bookholder as long as the thickness approximates nearly the maximum circumference of the expanded wire.
• 14) Alternatively different fixtures can be provided. For a solution with a fixture the first blade is chosen narrow to fit thin books. To fit thicker books, different fixtures can be applied to broaden the width of the blade and thereby gives even thicker books solid hold. So a narrow blade can be chosen with a width of at least about 10 mm to provide the necessary stability and f.e. two different fixtures could be provided. One with a width of approximately 40 mm and one with a width of approximately 60 mm. So nearly all hardcover-books and loose-leaf binders find solid hold.
• 15) The disadvantage of this solution that consists of different pieces can be overcome when only one rectangular fixture is provided that can be put on the blade lengthwise or crosswise like shown in FIG. 14. where 6′ shows a lengthwise and 6″ a crosswise use. If a length of approximately 40 to 100 mm and a width of approximately 20 to 40 mm is chosen it can broaden the first blade accordingly from 20 to 40 mm up to 100 mm, and books of equivalent size find solid hold
• 16) The fixation of the fixtures is not critical and can be provided with a slide mounting as shown in FIG. 15 where the cross section of the first blade 1 is shown as shaded area and the fixture 6 possesses a mount 7 which fits to the width of the first blade. A different solution is shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 where fixture and first blade possess buttons 8 and buttonholes 9. In this design both the fixture and the blade should be very thin to fit into the hollow space of the bookspine. FIG. 21. shows a further option of a fixture 11 which is equipped with a hollow space fitting to the cross section of the first blade so that it can be slipped on the blade.
• 17) Depending on design and construction of the bookholder it can also be split in the area of the first blade like shown in FIG. 18. Compressing the partite first blade, this fits to the spine of a thin book whereas the expanded blade fits to the spine of a thicker book and so provides a solid hold for books of different thickness.
• 18) The material of the bookholder can also be surface-treated to achieve visual effects. It can for instance be dyed or painted, or the surface can be refined by brushing or polishing, or labels, name tags or company logos can be put on it. The material does also not need to be uniform but can be composed of different components such as different layers of plastic with patterns or ornaments in between. To make the bookhold non-slip, the base surface of the second blade can be treated/covered with a non-slip coat. Designs which are especially suited for applying labels or engravings so that someone sitting opposite to the user of the bookholder can see those, are shown in FIGS. 7 to 9.
• 19) On the basis of these explanations the expert will easily come to further alternatives which are in the scope of this invention.

Without further elaboration, it is believed that one skilled in the art can, using the preceding description, utilize the present invention to its fullest extent. The preceding preferred specific embodiments are, therefore, to be construed as merely illustrative, and not limitative of the remainder of the disclosure in any way whatsoever.

The entire disclosures of all applications, patents and publications, cited herein and of corresponding German application No. 20 2006 009 794.5, filed Jun. 21, 2006, and German application No. 20 2006 015 802.2, filed Oct. 12, 2006, and German application No. 20 2007 004 258.2, filed Mar. 20, 2007, are incorporated by reference herein.

The preceding examples can be repeated with similar success by substituting the generically or specifically described reactants and/or operating conditions of this invention for those used in the preceding examples.

From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.