Air supported book stand

Abstract

An air-supported book stand constructed of an inner and an outer layer of airtight sheet material comprising an inclined member ( 92 ), attached to a vertical member ( 94 ), attached to a base ( 96 ), attached to a shelf ( 98 ) against the lower front of inclined member ( 92 ), and containing air filled through a closeable air inlet ( 84 ). Books rest against inclined member ( 92 ) and shelf ( 98 ), or between inclined member ( 92 ) and shelf ( 98 ), as with paperback books, magazines, and portable electronic devices. The air-supported book stand is comfortably soft, versatile, simple to use, light and compact to fit in a book bag or purse.

1 ) An air-supported book stand, comprising an air enclosure of air-tight material whereby books and other media may be propped closer to the view of the user.  
   
   
       2 ) The air-supported book stand in  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises: 
 (a) a broad inclined front member comprised of inner and outer surfaces, air-tight side welds, and a plurality of internal flatness maintaining welds that join said inner and outer front member surfaces,    (b) an upright back member comprised of inner and outer surfaces and air-tight side welds,    (c) a base comprised of inner and outer surfaces, air-tight side welds and a plurality of internal flatness maintaining welds that join said inner and outer base surfaces,    (d) a shorter front member, comprised of inner and outer surfaces, welded to the lower portion of said air-tight side welds of said broad inclined front member,    (e) an air inlet and plug, and    (f) a plurality of air-permeable welds whereby folds occur between said members, base, and shelf, and whereby air from said inlet is permitted to pass throughout,    whereby said book stand will support various sizes of hardbound books, with the book's cover resting against said broad inclined front member, and the book's bottom edge resting against said shorter front member,    whereby said book stand will support paperback books, clipboards, magazines and other soft bound reading material held between said inclined front member and said shorter front member,    whereby said book stand will support viewable electronic products such as portable DVD players, ebook readers, tablet PCs, open notebook computers, and electronic game devices, providing holding means when lower front edges of said products are wedged between said broad inclined front member and said shorter front member.    
   
   
       3 ) The air-supported book stand in  claim 2  further including a plurality of spans that join said inner and outer inclined front member surfaces.  
   
   
       4 ) The air-supported book stand in  claim 1 , further including: 
 (a) a sleeve of said air-tight material,    (b) a plurality of capping surfaces of said material, each of predetermined shapes, and seam-welded to said sleeve, enclosing a volume,    (c) a full width form protruding from the lower front of said sleeve, and    (d) an air-inlet and plug.    
   
   
       5 ) The air-supported book stand in  claim 4  further including a connecting piece welded in a plurality of locations on areas adjacent above, and adjacent below said full width form, whereby flatness is achieved and a predetermined angle is held between said areas.  
   
   
       6 ) The air supported book stand in  claim 1  wherein comprises: 
 (a) an inclined surface of firm material with a ledge whereupon a book may rest,    (b) a plurality of vertical side surfaces of flexible material attached to said inclined firm material surface,    (c) a base of said flexible material attached to said vertical side surfaces, and    (d) a closeable air inlet.    
   
   
       7 ) The air-supported book stand in  claim 1  wherein comprises: 
 (a) an inclined surface of firm material with a ledge whereupon a book may rest,    (b) a base of firm material whose front edge is adjacent to the front edge of said inclined surface    (c) a plurality of vertical side surfaces of flexible material attached between said inclined surface and said base,    (d) a closeable air inlet,    whereby automatic inflation through said closeable air inlet is achieved when free ends of said inclined surface and said base are urged apart, and said free ends are held together for deflation and storage.