Portable book holder apparatus and method

Abstract

A book holder comprising a generally planar back frame that defines a support surface against which the cover of the book rests. The support surface is disposed between opposing left and right edges defined by the back frame. The back frame extends substantially upward from a lower support base. The support base extends outward and upward from the back frame to define a receiving surface for supporting a book thereon. The pages of a book being received between the receiving surface and the support surface of the back frame such that the downward weight of the book wedges the pages between the receiving surface and the support surface. Opposing the support base is a page restraint arm. The page restraint arm is spaced-apart from the support base, and extends outward and downward from the support surface of the back frame, to define a restraining surface that opposes the support surface. A channel is formed between the restraining surface and the support surface. The channel is arranged to receive and maintain the pages of the book in the open position between the restraining surface and the support surface. In another aspect, the book holder comprises a removable insert disposed between the page restraint arm and the support base for holding books of smaller dimensions such as paper back books.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A book holder for receiving and maintaining a book with its cover and pages in an open position, to a particular page, while permitting a user to turn the pages without removing the book from the book holder, the book holder comprising: 
 a generally planar back frame that defines a support surface against which a cover of a book rests;    a support base from which the back frame extends substantially upward, wherein portions of the support base extend upward and outward from the back frame to define a receiving surface for supporting a book thereon, the book being received between the receiving surface and the support surface of the back frame such that the downward weight of the book wedges the pages its cover, in an open position; and    a page restraint arm spaced substantially upward from the support base, wherein portions of the page restraint arm extend outward and downward from the support surface of the back frame to define a restraining surface that opposes the support surface, wherein a channel is formed between the restraining surface and the support surface to receive and maintain the pages of a book in the open position between the restraining surface and the support surface.    
     
     
         2 . A book holder as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a removable insert disposed between the page restraint arm and the support base for holding a small book, the removable insert comprising: 
 a lower biasing element extending along the support base disposed to impart a biasing pressure toward the back frame upon pages of a book disposed between the lower biasing element and the back frame; and  
 an upper biasing element extending along the channel between the back frame and the page restraint arm, wherein the upper biasing element is disposed to impart a biasing pressure toward the back frame upon the pages of a book disposed between the upper biasing element and the back frame.  
 
     
     
         3 . A book holder as recited in  claim 2  further comprising a connecting member that extends from the lower biasing element upward to the upper biasing element to join the lower biasing element to the upper biasing element so that the lower biasing element is maintained adjacent the support base, and the upper biasing element is maintained adjacent the page restraint arm, wherein the pages of a book are biased in an open position within the book holder.  
     
     
         4 . A book holder as recited in  claim 1  wherein the support base defines a left outside corner which is turned upward to form a projection which further maintains the pages of a book in the open position.  
     
     
         5 . A book holder as recited in  claim 1  wherein the page restraint arm is arranged to define a centrally disposed notch, the notch being provided to create a void in the restraining surface thereby enabling the user more easily turn the pages of a book.  
     
     
         6 . A book holder as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a brace that extends rearward from the back frame to support the book holder from a flat surface.  
     
     
         7 . A method of making a book holder for receiving and maintaining a book with its cover and pages in an open position, to a particular page, while permitting a user to turn the pages without removing the book from the book holder, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a generally planar back frame that defines a support surface against which a cover of a book rests;    providing a support base from which the back frame extends substantially upward, wherein portions of the support base are formed to extend upward and outward from the back frame to define a receiving surface for supporting a book thereon, the book being received between the receiving surface and the support surface of the back frame such that the downward weight of the book wedges the pages its cover, in an open position; and    forming a page restraint arm spaced substantially upward from the support base, wherein portions of the page restraint arm extend outward and downward from the support surface of the back frame to define a restraining surface that opposes the support surface, wherein a channel is formed between the restraining surface and the support surface to receive and maintain the pages of a book in the open position between the restraining surface and the support surface.    
     
     
         8 . A method of making a book holder as recited in  claim 7  further comprising the step of providing a removable insert disposed between the page restraint arm and the support base for holding a small book, the removable insert comprising: 
 a lower biasing element extending along the support base disposed to impart a biasing pressure toward the back frame upon pages of a book disposed between the lower biasing element and the back frame; and  
 an upper biasing element extending along the channel between the back frame and the page restraint arm, wherein the upper biasing element is disposed to impart a biasing pressure toward the back frame upon the pages of a book disposed between the upper biasing element and the back frame.  
 
     
     
         9 . A method of making a book holder as recited in  claim 8  further comprising the step of providing a connecting member that extends from the lower biasing element upward to the upper biasing element to join the lower biasing element to the upper biasing element so that the lower biasing element is maintained adjacent the support base, and the upper biasing element is maintained adjacent the page restraint arm, wherein the pages of a book are biased in an open position within the book holder.  
     
     
         10 . A method of making a book holder as recited in  claim 7  wherein the support base defines a left outside corner and the method further comprises the step of forming a projection on the left outside corner which further maintains the pages of a book in the open position.  
     
     
         11 . A method of making a book holder as recited in  claim 7  further comprising the step of forming a notch in the page restraint arm, wherein the notch is formed to create a void in the restraining surface thereby enabling the user more easily turn the pages of a book.  
     
     
         12 . A book holder for receiving and maintaining a book with its cover and pages in an open position, to a particular page, while permitting a user to turn the pages without removing the book from the book holder, the book holder comprising: 
 a generally planar back frame that defines a support surface against which a cover of a book rests;    a support base from which the back frame extends substantially upward, wherein portions of the support base extend upward and outward from the back frame to define a receiving surface for supporting a book thereon, the book being received between the receiving surface and the support surface of the back frame such that the downward weight of the book wedges the pages its cover, in an open position;    a page restraint arm spaced substantially upward from the support base, wherein portions of the page restraint arm extend outward and downward from the support surface of the back frame to define a restraining surface that opposes the support surface, wherein a channel is formed between the restraining surface and the support surface to receive and maintain the pages of a book in the open position between the restraining surface and the support surface; and    a removable insert disposed between the page restraint arm and the support base, the removable insert comprising: 
 a lower biasing element extending along the support base disposed to impart a biasing pressure toward the back frame upon pages of a book disposed between the lower biasing element and the back frame; and  
 an upper biasing element extending along the channel between the back frame and the page restraint arm, wherein the upper biasing element is disposed to impart a biasing pressure toward the back frame upon the pages of a book disposed between the upper biasing element and the back frame.  
   
     
     
         13 . A book holder as recited in  claim 12  further comprising a connecting member that extends from the lower biasing element upward to the upper biasing element to join the lower biasing element to the upper biasing element so that the lower biasing element is maintained adjacent the support base, and the upper biasing element is maintained adjacent the page restraint arm, wherein the pages of a book are biased in an open position within the book holder.  
     
     
         14 . A book holder as recited in  claim 12  wherein the support base defines a left outside corner which is turned upward to form a projection which further maintains the pages of a book in the open position.  
     
     
         15 . A book holder as recited in  claim 12  wherein the page restraint arm is arranged to define a centrally disposed notch, the notch being provided to create a void in the restraining surface thereby enabling the user more easily turn the pages of a book.  
     
     
         16 . A book holder as recited in  claim 12  further comprising a brace that extends rearward from the back frame to support the book holder from a flat surface.  
     
     
         17 . A book holder as recited in  claim 12  wherein the page restraint arm defines a left outside corner which is turned downward to form a projection which further maintains the pages of a book in the open position.