Opened Book Holding Device

Abstract

A device to hold an open book at an open page is disclosed in which the page is clamped between a lip ( 1, 21 ) and a resilient book cover support ( 3, 23 ). Two embodiments of the device ( 10, 20 ) are disclosed, the former being fabricated as a single piece, the latter being able to be folded for compact packaging. In either case pages of the open book can be turned at will.

1 . An opened book holding device to permit an opened book to be held open at a selected pair of adjacent pages, said device including:
 a base;   a lip extending upwardly from said base and dimensioned to abut with a lower edge of said book;   at least one cover support mounted on said base and dimensioned to support a corresponding outer cover of said book; and   biasing means to resiliently bias the or each said cover support towards said lip;   wherein said lip and said cover support(s) are dimensioned to resiliently clamp said opened book therebetween.   
   
   
       2 . A device according to  claim 1  including a pair of said cover supports each of which is independently resiliently biased. 
   
   
       3 . A device according to  claim 1  wherein said cover support(s) are adjustably mounted on said base to alter the degree of inclination thereof relative to said base. 
   
   
       4 . A device according to  claim 3  wherein said cover support(s) are selectively inclinable relative to said base into any one of a plurality of pre-selected positions. 
   
   
       5 . A device according to  claim 3  wherein said cover support(s) are hingedly mounted to said base. 
   
   
       6 . A device according to  claim 1  wherein said cover support(s) are formed as a cantilever which constitutes said biasing means. 
   
   
       7 . (canceled) 
   
   
       8 . A method of holding open a selected pair of adjacent pages of a book having a front cover, a back cover, and a plurality of pages, said method including the steps of:
 (i) opening said book at said selected pair of adjacent pages;   (ii) placing said front cover and said back cover on a cover support means; and
 (iii) resiliently urging said cover support means towards a lip to abut said book with said lip to thereby clamp said book between said lip and said cover support means. 
   
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 8  including the step of adjustably mounting said cover supports to a base such that said cover supports inclination angle can be altered. 
   
   
       10 . (canceled) 
   
   
       11 . A device according to  claim 2  wherein said cover support(s) are adjustably mounted on said base to alter the degree of inclination thereof relative to said base. 
   
   
       12 . A device according to  claim 11  wherein said cover support(s) are selectively inclinable relative to said base into any one of a plurality of pre-selected positions. 
   
   
       13 . A device according to  claim 12  wherein said cover support(s) are hingedly mounted to said base. 
   
   
       14 . A device according to  claim 11  wherein said cover support(s) are formed as a cantilever which constitutes said biasing means. 
   
   
       15 . A device according to  claim 2  wherein said cover support(s) are formed as a cantilever which constitutes said biasing means. 
   
   
       16 . A device according to  claim 3  wherein said cover support(s) are formed as a cantilever which constitutes said biasing means. 
   
   
       17 . A device according to  claim 4  wherein said cover support(s) are formed as a cantilever which constitutes said biasing means. 
   
   
       18 . A device according to  claim 5  wherein said cover support(s) are formed as a cantilever which constitutes said biasing means.