Compact articulated lectern for a book, papers or other such articles

Abstract

Disclosed is an articulated lectern with panels joined by hinges, with the panels employing a kickstand and keeper holes to adjust height and angularity. The lectern can be made of solid panels or frame panels.

1 . A compact, portable articulated stand for a book, papers or other articles, comprising three respective portions including a base portion, an intermediate portion hingeably connected to the base portion, and a top portion hingeably connected to the intermediate portion, such that the three portions may be unfolded from a compact storage position and articulated into an extended position for use, a first wire member pivotably mounted on the intermediate portion and having respective spaced-apart first stud portions extending substantially perpendicular hereto, the base portion having a pair of openings formed therein for receiving the respective stud portions of the first wire member, thereby articulating the intermediate portion to the base portion, such that the intermediate portion may extend substantially above the base portion, a second wire member pivotably mounted on the underside of the top portion and having respective second stud portions extending substantially perpendicular thereto, and the intermediate portion having a dual set of spaced-apart openings formed therein, one set on each respective side thereof, for receiving the respective second stud portions of the second wire member, thereby adjustably articulating the top portion to the intermediate portion, at a vertically-extended position above the intermediate portion and at a selected angle relative thereto, such that the book, papers or other articles may be placed on the top portion. 
   
   
       2 . The compact, portable articulated stand of  claim 1 , further comprising a horizontal ledge on the top portion and nearest a user of the stand, thereby preventing the book, paper or other article from sliding off the stand. 
   
   
       3 . The compact, portable articulated stand of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom hinge is folded allowing for reading in a seated position. 
   
   
       4 . The articulated multi-level lectern of  claim 1 , further comprising shallow grooves to receive the first and second wire members in their folded positions for storage. 
   
   
       5 . An articulated multi-level lectern for holding books, papers or other articles comprising:
 a top panel, a middle panel and a bottom panel with the panels being hinged and when in use forming a Z-shaped configuration,   the top panel at both side edges being provided with a plurality of first holes for receiving a plurality of first inboard ears of a first kickstand and the middle panel at both side edges being supplied with parallel sets of first keeper holes to receive a plurality of spaced-apart first feet of the first kickstand,   the middle panel also being supplied at both side edges with a plurality of second holes for receiving a plurality of second inboard ears of a second kickstand and the bottom panel at both side edges being supplied with parallel sets of second keeper holes to receive a plurality of spaced-apart second feet of the second kickstand,   the feet of the first and second kickstands can be placed in any desired set of parallel keeper holes to determine height and angularity of the lectern.   
   
   
       6 . The articulated multi-level lectern of  claim 5 , further comprising a book stop at the front edge of the top panel. 
   
   
       7 . The articulated multi-level lectern of  claim 5 , further comprising shallow grooves to receive the first and second kickstands in their folded positions for storage. 
   
   
       8 . An articulated multi-level lectern for holding books, papers or other articles comprising: a top panel, a middle panel and a bottom panel with the panels being frame panels; the bottom panel and the middle panel being hingedly connected and the middle panel and the top panel being hingedly connected; and being articulately connected by a plurality of U-shaped kickstands, each kickstand having either inboard or outboard ears to be joined inboard or outboard, to the top panel and the middle panel, respectively; and at the corners and bottom of each of the U-shaped kickstands there are nipples or indents designed to fit into keeper slots or holes on the surface of the middle panel and the bottom panel, respectively. 
   
   
       9 . The articulated multi-level lectern of  claim 8 , wherein each of the frame panels have through opening. 
   
   
       10 . The articulated multi-level lectern of  claim 9 , wherein the opening of the top panel frame has inboard holes to accept the inboard ears of the U-shape kickstand; and the opening of the middle panel frame has inboard holes to accept the inboard ears of the U-shape kickstand. 
   
   
       11 . The articulated multi-level lectern of  claim 8 , wherein the keeper slots do not extend across the width of the frame member. 
   
   
       12 . The articulated multi-level lectern of  claim 8 , wherein the surface holes do not extend across the width of the frame member. 
   
   
       13 . The articulated multi-level lectern of  claim 8 , further comprising a book stop at the front edge of the top panel. 
   
   
       14 . The articulated multi-level lectern of  claim 8 , further comprising shallow grooves to receive the first and second U-shape kickstands in their folded positions for storage.