US3079724A - Wire reading stand - Google Patents

Description

March 5, 1963 F. HARVEL ETAL 3,079,724

WIRE READING smm Filed Feb. 7, 1961 I r Loyd F Harve/ Russell 5. Guar/na INVENTORS @nited Federated Mar. 5, 1963 3,079,724 WlRE READTNG STAND Loyd F. laurel, 432 W. Central, Bethaito, Ill., and Russell S. Guarino, 290 Smith St., East Alton, Eli. Filed Feb. 7, 1961, Ser. No. 87,572 2 Claims. (Ci. -57) This invention relates to a novel and useful stand for supporting newspapers and the like in an upright position.

The newspaper stand of the instant invention is characterized by a clip which is fashioned from a single length of wire, said clip embodying a pair of elongated upstanding open frame-like members each having parallel opposite side portions. vIntegral means are provided for connecting the frame-like members at their lower ends and the construction of the frame-like members is such that they are normally urged toward each other. The frame members are of the same Width and are thus registrable with each other. A stand base is provided for retaining the frame-like members in an upstanding position and the article to be supported is positioned between the confronting surfaces of the frame-like members whose inherent resiliency will frictionally grip the article or newspaper disposed therebetween. Each of the frame-like members is provided with a laterally projecting support member which projects toward the other of the frame members. The support members are carried by opposite side portions of the frame-like members on which they are disposed and thus the two laterally projecting support members are spaced at opposite sides of the registered open frame-like members to provide two spaced supporting surfaces upon which the article being supported by the stand may have its lower edge engaged with in order to provide additional support for the article engaged with the stand.

The main object of this invention is to provide a stand for flexible printed material such as TV guides, newspapers and the like that may be utilized to support the printed material in a manner whereby one entire side of the printed material may be viewed with a minimum amount of the printed material being obstructed.

A further object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding object, is to provide an article stand which will in addition to supporting the article in an upright position also tightly frictionally grip the article so that the latter may not be accidentally dislodged from engagement with the stand by means of circulating air or having a solid object accidentally brushed against the article.

A still further object of this invention, in accordance with the preceding objects, is to provide an article stand which will have a pleasing appearance in order that it may be utilized as desired in rooms in which substantially all ty es of decor are used.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide an article stand which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, is of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble-free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the article stand of the instant invention shown being utilized to support a flexible panel-like member diagrammatically representing any type of flexible printed material;

FIGURE 2 is a view observing FIGURE 1 in a direction from left to right and with the base appearing in section; and

'FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 33 of FIGURE 2.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the article stand of the instant invention which is shown in the drawings supporting a flexible panel member 12.

The article stand of the instant invention includes a base generally designated by the reference numeral 14 and an article gripping and holding clip characterized by a pair of elongated upstanding open frame-like members generally designated by the reference numerals i6 and 18. Each of the open frame-like members constitutes a clamping jaw and comprises an inverted U-shaped member 20 including a pair of opposite coplanar side portions or legs 22 and 24 which are interconnected at their upper ends by means of a curved bight portion 26. The legs 22 and 24 of each U-shaped member 20 are substantially parallel although it is to be noted that they may be inclined relative to each other and the legs 22 and 24 of each U-shaped member or jaw 2b are positioned similarly relative to the positioning of the legs 22 and 24 of the other U-shaped member 29. The U-shaped members 26 are interconnected by means of a unitary connecting element 28 the median or crest portion of which is perched atop and fixedly secured to the head 30 of a fastener 32 which in turn is secured through a bore 34 formed in the base 14 by means of a nut 36. Thus, it will be noted that the U-shaped members or frame-like members 20 are rigidly secured in an upright position relative to the base 14. The base 14 may be provided with a covering 38 over its lower surface 40 for preventing the base from marring objects on which it is placed. The covering 38 may be of felt or any other suitable material.

The leg 24 of each U-shaped member 29 is somewhat longer than the leg 22 thereof and the unitary connecting element 28 is disposed between the lower ends of the longer legs 24. In addition, each of the longer legs '24- is provided with a laterally projecting support member in the form of a loop 42 which projects toward the plane in which the other U-shaped member is disposed.

The bight portion 26 of the frame-like member 18 is lower than the bight portion 26 of the frame memberlike member 26 and is laterally deflected at its upper portion away from the plane in which the frame-like member 20 is disposed. The lateral deflection of the upper portion of the bight portion 26 of the frame-like member 18 forms an upwardly opening V-shaped notch between the upper ends of the frame-like members 18 and 29 for facilitating the placement of the panel 12 therebetween.

The base 14- may be of any configuration although it is most conveniently rectangular in plan provided with a substantially flat top wall 44 whose marginal portions .-6 are downwardly and outwardly beveled.

While the laterally deflected portion 43 of the open frame-like member 18 serves to facilitate the placement of the panel 12 between the U-shaped members 20, it will be noted that the side portions 22 and 24 are registered with each other so as to enable the panel 12 to be supported therebetween without creasing the panel 12.

Additionally, the loops 42 provide additional upwardly opening V-shaped notches in which the lower edge 48 of the panel is received in order to provide two points of contact for the lower edge 48 at spaced points longitudinally therealong. Thus, not only is the panel 12 frictionally gripped between the U-shaped members 20, but the lower edge 48 thereof is supported in a manner which would itself be sufiicient to support the panel 12. However, the frictional gripping of the panel 12 between the U-shaped members 20 is desired in order that the panel 12 will not become cocked or accidentally dislodged. In

addition, the loops 42 are beneficial when used in connection with the frictional gripping aiforded by the U shtped members 2%; inasmuch as since the lower edge i8 01'' the panel is supported at two points spaced longitudinally therealong the panel 12 will not become cocked relative to the stand it? while frictionally gripped between the cl-shaped rnembersld.

It will be noted that the loops 42 on each leg 24 are formed thereon below the lower end of the adjacent leg 22 of the other U-shaped member 20. Thus, the loops 4-2 may be directed toward the opposite U-shaped member 2%.

It will be noted that the frame-like members 13 and 2% are unitary and connected by the unitary connecting element 2'3 disposed therebetween whereby the entire clarnping assembly may be constructed of a single piece of wire.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling Within the scope of the invention as claimed.

'What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A stand for removably supporting a newspaper, booklet or similar article in an upright readable position comprising: a portable base, a pair of cooperatively associated vertically elongated upstanding open frame-like members, each member being of inverted U-shaped form and embodying a pair of spaced parallel coplanar legs having upper ends thereof joined by a bight portion, the legs of one member being opposed to and aligned with corresponding legs of the other member, means connecting the lower end portions of said members together, said means comprising a connecting element unitary with cooperating legs of said frame-like members, means joined to said connecting element and mounting the same on said base, said frame-like members and said connecting element being constructed of a single piece of Wire, one leg of each member being short and the other leg long, each of the longer legs of said frame-like members including a laterally projecting article support member disposed in a plane below the plane of the respective shorter legs of the respective frame-like members.

2. A portable stand for use on a table or the like to clampingly hold a newspaper, magazine, card or the like in an erect readily viewable and readable position comprising: in combination, a portable base embodying a block having a padded anti-slipping bottom to rest atop said table, said block having a central vertical bore whose lower end is counterbored, a bolt passing downwardly through said bore and having a nut-retained end confined in the counterbore, an upper end of said bolt having a head exposed above a top surface of said block, and an article holding clip extending vertically above the central bored portion of said block, said clip embodying a pair of similarly constructed inverted U-haped open frame-like members each constituting an article clamping jaw, said frame-like members each being of the same width, one member being or" a length different from the length of the other one, the lower ends of said members being joined together by an arcuately bent connecting element, and the mediancrest of said connecting element being fixed atop said head, said clip being fashioned from a single length of wire bent upon itself to define said bent connecting element and also said jaws, each frame-like member embodying a long leg and a short leg, said legs having their upper ends joined by a bight portion, the lower ends of the respective short legs being free and the lower ends of the long legs being joined to the respectively cooperating ends of said bent connecting element, said wire at the juncture of said lower ends and cooperating ends of said bent connecting element being coiled and formed into laterally projecting loops, said loops providing limit stops for the lower end of the article which is positioned between the jaws, and said stops being positioned in a common plane, a plane which is below the plane of the free lower ends of the respective short legs.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 12,171 McGill Nov. 17, 1903 901,818 McStay Oct. 20, 1908 1,949,607 Harrold Mar. 4, 1934 2,196,118 McKelvie Apr. 2, 1949 2,603,357 ZakOS July 15, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 445,379 France Sept. 2,- 1912

Claims (1)

1. A STAND FOR REMOVABLY SUPPORTING A NEWSPAPER, BOOKLET OR SIMILAR ARTICLE IN AN UPRIGHT READABLE POSITION COMPRISING: A PORTABLE BASE, A PAIR OF COOPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED VERTICALLY ELONGATED UPSTANDING OPEN FRAME-LIKE MEMBERS, EACH MEMBER BEING OF INVERTED U-SHAPED FORM AND EMBODYING A PAIR OF SPACED PARALLEL COPLANAR LEGS HAVING UPPER ENDS THEREOF JOINED BY A BIGHT PORTION, THE LEGS OF ONE MEMBER BEING OPPOSED TO AND ALIGNED WITH CORRESPONDING LEGS OF THE OTHER MEMBER, MEANS CONNECTING THE LOWER END PORTIONS OF SAID MEMBERS TOGETHER, SAID MEANS COMPRISING A CONNECTING ELEMENT UNITARY WITH COOPERATING LEGS OF SAID FRAME-LIKE MEMBERS, MEANS JOINED TO SAID CONNECTING ELEMENT AND MOUNTING THE SAME ON SAID BASE, SAID FRAME-LIKE MEMBERS AND SAID CONNECTING ELEMENT BEING CONSTRUCTED OF A SINGLE PIECE OF WIRE, ONE LEG OF EACH MEMBER BEING SHORT AND THE OTHER LEG LONG, EACH OF THE LONGER LEGS OF SAID FRAME-LIKE MEMBERS INCLUDING A LATERALLY PROJECTING ARTICLE SUPPORT MEMBER DISPOSED IN A PLANE BELOW THE PLANE OF THE RESPECTIVE SHORTER LEGS OF THE RESPECTIVE FRAME-LIKE MEMBERS.

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