Deployable support unit for reading material

Abstract

A support unit for supporting readable material at a convenient angle and height for facilitated viewing. The support unit is deployable between a collapsed and generally flat non-deployed position, and a deployed position with a support platen at an adjustably selected angle and height for comfortable viewing. In one embodiment, the support platen is pivotally mounted onto an intermediate bracket plate which in turn is pivotally mounted onto a base plate, with an upper support strut adjustably set to accommodate support platen positioning relative to the base plate and bracket plate in one of multiple angular settings. The support platen may additionally support the reading material such as an electronic digital device including electronic touch pad or keypad, at a selected rotational position. In one preferred form, the upper support strut is adapted to overlie and protect the support platen and device thereon in the non-deployed position.

1 . A deployable support unit, comprising:
 a bracket plate;   a support platen hingedly connected to said bracket plate and including means for supporting reading material thereon; and   a support strut for supporting said support platen at a selected angular orientation relative to said bracket plate;   whereby said support platen is movable between a non-deployed position disposed in closely overlying and substantially parallel relation with said bracket plate, and a deployed position tilted upwardly at a selected angular orientation relative to said bracket plate;   said support platen further including means for rotatably supporting the reading material in said deployed position.   
     
     
         2 . The deployable support unit of  claim 1  wherein said support platen supports an electronic reading material device thereon. 
     
     
         3 . The deployable support unit of  claim 1  wherein said support platen comprises a bracket arm hingedly connected to said bracket plate, and a platen unit rotatably carried on said bracket arm, the reading material being supported by said platen unit. 
     
     
         4 . The deployable support unit of  claim 3  wherein said supporting means comprises a magnet carried by said platen unit, and a magnetically attractable component carried by the reading material. 
     
     
         5 . The deployable support unit of  claim 1  wherein said support strut is hingedly connected to one of said support platen and said bracket plate, and further wherein a free end of said support strut includes a tooth for selectively engaging one of a plurality of slots formed in the other of said support platen and said bracket plate, when said unit is in said deployed position. 
     
     
         6 . The deployable support unit of  claim 1  wherein said support strut comprises an upper support strut engageable between said bracket plate and said support platen, and further comprising a base plate hingedly coupled to said bracket plate, and a lower support strut engageable between said base plate and said bracket plate. 
     
     
         7 . The deployable support unit of  claim 6  wherein said bracket plate is hingedly connected to said base plate generally at a rear margin thereof, and is hingedly connected to said support platen generally at a front margin thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The deployable support unit of  claim 1  wherein said support strut overlies and protects said support platen in said non-deployed position. 
     
     
         9 . A deployable support unit, comprising:
 a bracket plate;   a support platen hingedly connected to said bracket plate and including means for supporting reading material thereon;   an upper support strut for supporting said support platen at a selected angular orientation relative to said bracket plate;   a base plate hingedly connected to said bracket plate; and   a lower support strut for supporting said bracket plate at a selected angular orientation relative to said base plate;   whereby said support platen is movable between a non-deployed position disposed in closely overlying and substantially parallel relation with said bracket plate and said base plate, and a deployed position tilted upwardly at a selected vertical position and a selected angular orientation relative to said base plate;   said support platen further including means for rotatably supporting the reading material in said deployed position.   
     
     
         10 . The deployable support unit of  claim 9  wherein said support platen supports an electronic reading material device thereon. 
     
     
         11 . The deployable support unit of  claim 9  wherein said support platen comprises a bracket arm hingedly connected to said bracket plate, and a platen unit rotatably carried on said bracket arm, the reading material being supported by said platen unit. 
     
     
         12 . The deployable support unit of  claim 11  wherein said supporting means comprises a magnet carried by said platen unit, and a magnetically attractable component carried by the reading material. 
     
     
         13 . The deployable support unit of  claim 9  wherein said upper support strut is hingedly connected to one of said support platen and said bracket plate, and further wherein a free end of said upper support strut includes a tooth for selectively engaging one of a plurality of slots formed in the other of said support platen and said bracket plate, when said unit is in said deployed position. 
     
     
         14 . The deployable support unit of  claim 9  wherein said upper support strut overlies and protects said support platen in said non-deployed position. 
     
     
         15 . A deployable support unit, comprising:
 a bracket plate;   a support platen including a bracket arm hingedly connected to said bracket plate, and a platen unit rotatably carried by said bracket arm; and   a support strut for supporting said bracket arm at a selected angular orientation relative to said bracket plate;   whereby said support platen including said bracket arm and said platen unit are movable between a non-deployed position disposed in closely overlying and substantially parallel relation with said bracket plate, and a deployed position tilted upwardly at a selected angular orientation relative to said bracket plate;   said platen unit further including means for rotatably supporting the reading material in said deployed position, and for mounting of the reading material thereon, said mounting means comprising a magnet for mounting onto one of said platen unit and the reading material, and a magnetically attractable component for mounting onto the other of said platen unit and the reading material.   
     
     
         16 . The deployable support unit of  claim 15  wherein said support platen supports an electronic reading material device thereon. 
     
     
         17 . The deployable support unit of  claim 16  wherein said mounting means comprises said magnet carried by said platen unit, and said magnetically attractable component carried by the reading material. 
     
     
         18 . The deployable support unit of  claim 15  wherein said support strut is hingedly connected to one of said support platen and said bracket plate, and further wherein a free end of said support strut includes a tooth for selectively engaging one of a plurality of slots formed in the other of said support platen and said bracket plate, when said unit is in said deployed position. 
     
     
         19 . The deployable support unit of  claim 15  wherein said support strut overlies and protects said support platen in said non-deployed position.