US3281974A

US3281974A - Page turner

Info

Publication number: US3281974A
Application number: US390818A
Authority: US
Inventors: Floyd J Jensen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-08-20
Filing date: 1964-08-20
Publication date: 1966-11-01
Anticipated expiration: 1983-11-01

Description

Nov. 1, 1966 F. J. JENSEN 3,281,974

PAGE TURNER Filed Aug. 20, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet l 92 99 IOI I02 INVENTOR.

Floyd J. Jensen NOV. 1, 1966 J JENSEN 3,281,974

PAGE TURNER Filed Aug. 20, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 v In Lfiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiil i Ii 0 N Floyd J. Jensen BY INVENTOR.

Fig.4

1 44 Attorney Filed Aug. 20, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig/l F I 9 INVENTOR.

Floyd J. Jensen M Attorney United States Patent 3,281,974 PAGE TURNER Floyd J. Jensen, 908 Colonial Lane, Palo Alto, Calif. Filed Aug. 20, 1964, Ser. No. 390,818 9 Claims. (Cl. 40-103) This invention relates generally to devices for supporting and retaining books, sheet music, and the like, and more particularly is directed to a device for automatically and selectively turning the pages of the book.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved mechanism for supporting a plurality of sheets having written indicia thereon which enables the sheets to be moved readily into a loaded position in stacked overlying relation and which then selectively moves each sheet individually into an unloaded position out of overlying relation with the sheets still in loaded position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a page turning device which includes a support stand member and a separate book-form page holding member that is removably mountable on the stand whereby a plurality of such books are interchangeably usable with the stand.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a page turning device of the type described which may be controlled by a switch activated by the users foot, thus enabling the pages to be turned without need for use of the hands.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a page turning device of the type described which is readily adjustable to vary the force and speed with which the pages are turned, thus enabling use of the device'with books or pages disposed in either horizontal, vertical, or intermediate positions.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a device of the type described which includes a plurality of page holders mounted on a shaft for rotation thereon, which holders are freely movable on said shaft and do not bind one another to restrict rotational movement, and which can be stacked in generally parallel overlying relation.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which of the foregoing will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawings (three sheets):

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a page turning device embodying the present invention, depicting a pageholding book while disengaged from a stand on which the book is adapted to be removably mounted.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation View of the book and stand of FIGURE 1 assembled together in operative position.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view taken along the plane of line 3-3 as shown in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an end elevation view taken along the plane of line 4-4 as shown in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a cross sectional plan view taken along the plane of line 5-5 as shown in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is a cross sectional plan view taken along the plane of line 66 as shown in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 7 is a cross sectional bottom view on an enlarged scale taken along the plane of line 7-7 as shown in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 8 is a cross sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along the plane of line 8-8 as shown in FIG- URE 2.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken along the plane of line 9-9 as shown in FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary plan view taken along the plane of line 10-10 as shown in FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken along the plane of line 11-11 as shown in FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 12 is an electrical schematic diagram illustrating the electrical circuit means used in operating the structure shown in FIGURE 1.

Describing now in broad terms one embodiment of the present invention, there is shown in the'drawings a page turning device comprising a stand 21, a release trigger 22 mounted on the stand and movable between three operating positions, means for selectively moving trigger 22 to any one of its positions, which means may include a switching device 23 operable by the users hand or foot, a plurality of page holders 24 mounted on the stand for movement between loaded and unloaded positions disposed respectively on the right and left sides of the stand, resilient means such as a coil torsion spring 26 associated with each holder urging it into unloaded position, the trigger 22 when in a first operating position being disposed in obstructive relation with the first plurality of holders for restraining the latter against movement from loaded to unloaded position and being disposed out of obstructive relation with a second plurality of said holders, and when in its second operating position being disposed in obstructive relation with the second plurality of holders and out of obstructive relation with the first plurality of holders, the first plurality of holders being disposed in alternating stacked relation with the second plurality of holders when both pluralities of holders are in loaded position, and the trigger when in its third operating position being disposed out of obstructive alignment with all of said holders.

Stand 21 includes a generally planar back support member 27 and a bottom support member 28 having an upper surface 29 extending transversely from the back support member. Release trigger 22 extends upwardly through a slot 31 provided in the surface 29. When the page holders 24 are moved into loaded position, the trigger 22 is disposed in its third operating position which is below the bottoms of the holders and thus enables them to be moved Without obstruction from the trigger. After the holders are in their loaded position, the trigger is moved into its first or second operating position in which it restrains the holders from moving back to unloaded position under the force of their respective springs 26. As the trigger is moved back and forth between its first and second operating positions, one of the holders at a time is individually released in a manner to be described, with the switch 23 controlling the selective movement of the trigger between its first and second operating positions.

Considering now the structural details of the illustrated embodiment of the instant page turning apparatus, reference is made to FIGURES 8, 9, and 10 wherein is shown a carriage member 32 pivotally mounted on a shaft 33 for rotational movement about an axis generally perpendicular to the back support member 27. The shaft 33 is secured between upwardly extending portions 34 of a bracket 36 which is mounted on the bottom support member 28. The carriage 32 is movable between two positions as best shown in FIGURE 9, with a tension spring 37 urging the carriage into its lowermost position as depicted by phantom lines. A stub shaft 38 is rotatably in the front wall 39 of the bottom member 28, and is manually rotatable by a knob 41 as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. A cam member 42 is rigidly secured to the shaft 38 and disposed inwardly of the wall 39, and is engageable with a portion 43 of the carriage 32. When the knob 41 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, the cam member 42 forces the portion 43 upwardly to pivot the carriage member 32 in a counterclockwise direction and into its position disposed closest to the surface 29, such position being depicted by solid lines in FIGURE 9. When the knob 41 is rotated in a clockwise direction, the cam member 42 is moved in such a manner as to enable clockwise movement of the carriage under the force of the spring 37 to bring the carriage into its aforesaid lowermost position. An upwardly extending portion 44 provided on the cam member 42 comes into engagement with the portion 43 when the knob is pivoted in the counterclockwise direction to limit the movement in such direction and to positively position the carriage in its uppermost position, it being noted that a detent 46 is provided in the cam member 42 for engaging the portion 43 when the latter is disposed adjacent said portion 44.

A stub shaft 47 is rotatably mounted on the carriage 32, with the trigger 22 being secured to said stub shaft 47 for pivotal movement therewith. A rotary solenoid 48, such as the type manufactured by the Ledex Corporation of Dayton, Ohio, is mounted on the carriage 32 and has an operating arm 49 extending between a pair of bifurcated portions 51 and 52 provided on the lower portion of the trigger 22. Energization of the solenoid 48 causes the arm 49 to move in a clockwise circular direction from the position shown in FIGURE 9 to .a position in which the trigger also is moved clockwise relative to the carriage 32. A tension spring 53 is secured between the carriage 32 and the stub shaft 47 for urging the latter in a counterclockwise direction, so that when the solenoid 48 is deenergized the trigger 22 is returned to its farthest counterclockwise position.

From the foregoing it is seen that the trigger 22 has two reference positions in relation to the carriage 32, and that the carriage has an uppermost and lowermost refer ence position in relation to the stand 21. When the carriage is in its uppermost position, and the trigger is in its counterclockwise position relative to the carriage as indicated by solid lines in FIGURE 9, the trigger is herein denoted as being in its first operating position. When the carriage is still in its uppermost position, but the solenoid 48 is energized to move the trigger into the phantom position depicted by 22a in FIGURE 9, the trigger is denoted herein as being in its second operating position. When the carriage 32 is in its lowermost position the trigger 22 is denoted as being in its third operating position, whether or not the solenoid is energized.

The page holders 24 of the present invention preferably are assembled together in the form of a book 54 which is removably mounted on the stand 21. In this regard, a lower retaining member 56 is provided on the upper surface 29 of the stand 21 and has a diametrical groove 57 on the upper end 58 thereof. An upper retaining member 59 is mounted on said back support 27 in upwardly spaced opposed confronting relation with the lower retaining member 56, and as shown is hingedly mounted for pivotal movement from and toward the lower member 56. The book 54 includes a shaft 61 having a lower end portion 62 with a bottom ridge 63 dimensioned to fit in the groove 57 of the member 56. An upper end portion of 64 is provided on the shaft 61 for engagement with the upper retaining member 59, whereby the shaft 61 can be removably secured between the

members

56 and 59. The groove 57 and ridge 63 serve to prevent rotational movement of the shaft 61 relative to the member 56. The page holders 27 which form a part of the book 54 are rotatably mounted on the shaft 61, and can be moved from left to right when the book is mounted on the stand 21. Each page holder 24 includes a longitudinally extending rela tively rigid portion 66 disposed in parallel spaced relation to the shaft 61, and a rigid bottom portion 67 extending perpendicularly from the portion 66 and disposed adjacent the upper surface 29 of the stand. Each page holder 24 further includes a pair of spaced transparent sheets 68 secured to the

holder portion

66 and 67 by means of rivets 69 or the like, as shown in FIGURE 2, with the sheets being secured together along a folded outer edge 71 best 74 as shown.

- 4 seen in FIGURE 6. Sheet music or the like can be disposed between the-transparent page holder sheets 68 by insertion between the upper pages 72 thereof.

Each of the page holders 24 is mounted on the shaft 21 by means of a pair of spaced

annular bearings

73 and 74 which are concentrically disposed on the shaft 61 for rotation thereon. The pair of

bearings

73, 74 for each holder 24 are spaced the same distance apart, with the bearings on one holder being axially displaced from the bearings of the other holders. Each hearing has a flattened surface 76 on which right angle bracket members 77 are mounted to secure the longitudinal portion 66' of each page holder to its respective pair of bearings. By positioning the brackets 77 of each page holder at different radial positions relative to the brackets of the other page holders, the various page holders can be disposed at spaced radial positions in relation to one another. In this manner the page holders can be disposed in generally parallel overlying relation, instead of fanning out in a radial direction from the shaft 61. As depicted in FIGURE 5, the page holders and corresponding brackets are respectively mounted on the flattened surfaces of their bearings at positions ranging from an innermost page holder 24a and an outermost page holder 24b, these two holders being spaced apart a full diameter of the-bearing A collar member 78 is rigidly secured to the shaft 61 immediately subjacent each bearing 73, whereby each bearing 73 has the weight of its respective holder 24 supported entirely on the corresponding collar 78. In this manner the weight of all the page holders does not accumulate to restrictrotation of the lowermost bearings. Preferably, the annular bearing 73 as shown has an inner recess 79 whereby the corresponding collar 78 is completely enclosed by the bearing 73 and there is no need for substantial axial spacing of adjacent bearings 73.

The lowermost bearing 74 for each page holder is provided with a similar recess 81, with the aforesaid coil spring 26 being disposed in the recess 81 and secured between the bearing 74 and shaft 61. More particularly, one end of the coil spring 26 is retained in a slot in the shaft 61, while the other end of the spring 26 is retained in a slot in the bearing 74, as best seen in FIGURE 6. The spring 26 and bearing 74 are so positioned that when the respective page holder is disposed in its left hand position relative to the shaft 61, there is little or no rotational torque applied to the page holder. As the page holder is moved about the shaft into its right hand or loaded position, such movement coils the spring 26 whereby it tends to move the respective page holder back into its unloaded position.

When the page holders 24 are in the aforesaid right or loaded position, the bottom portions 67 of the page holders are disposed adjacent the trigger 22, which is positioned generally in the path of movement of the portions 67 from loaded to unloaded position. When the trigger 22 is in its third operating position, it is disposed below all of the page holders whereby they can be readily moved into loaded position.

A first plurality of the page holders denoted in FIGURE 7 as 24' are provided with slotted openings 82 that align with the trigger 22 when in its second operating position, whereby this first plurality of holders can pass freely by the trigger 22. The remaining or second plurality of holders '24" have their bottom portions 67 obstructed by the trigger 22 when in its second operating position, so that they are prevented from passing from loaded to unloaded position. The second plurality of holders, however, are provided with slotted openings 83 in the bottom portions 67 thereof whereby they can pass freely by the trigger 22 when in its first operating position. The first plurality of holders, however, are obstructed from moving by the trigger 22 when in its first operating position. As indicated in FIGURE 7, the first plurality of holders 24' are positioned in alternating stacked relation with the second plurality of holders 24", so that with the trigger 22 positioned as shown in its second operating position, the trigger engagesthe bottom portion 67 of the outermost holder 24" thereby obstructing the latter holder and all those disposed behind it from moving to their unloaded left hand position. The first holder 24, indicated in phantom lines in FIGURE 7, is not obstructed by the trigger 22 since the slotted openings 82 thereof aligns with the trigger when in the shown second operating position. Therefore, this outermost holder 24' is moved under the force of its coil spring 26 to the left hand position as shown in FIGURE 2.

When the holders 24 are disposed in their loaded positions, it will be appreciated that rotation of the shaft 61 in relation to the bearings '74 will vary the tension on the corresponding springs 26, and thus can be used to adjust the force with which the pages are turned from loaded to unloaded position. Accordingly, the lower retaining member 56 is rotatably mounted on the bottom support member 28 of the stand 21 for pivotal movement about an axis aligned with the shaft 61. A lever 84 is secured to the member 56 at best shown in FIGURE 8, and extends radially therefrom through a slot 86 provided on the front wall of the member 27, whereby the lever 84 is manually accessible from the exterior of the stand as seen in FIGURES l and 2. Movement of the lever 84 from left to right causes rotation of the retaining member 56, whereby the shaft 61 which is keyed to the member 56 is correspondingly rotated about its axis. A slotted bracket 87 through which the lever 84 extends is mounted on the member 28, as shown in FIGURES 8 and 11, with notched portions 88 being disposed in the slot 89 of the bracket 87. The lever 84 can be positioned between any adjacent pair of notched portions 88, thus securing the shaft 61 and any selected rotational position thereof.

The circuit for operating the solenoid 48 is disclosed in FIGURE 12, and includes a plug 91 suitable for connecting to a line current of 115 volts A.C. The plug 91 is connected to the primary coil 92 of a transformer 93 by means of leads 94 and 96, with an on-ofi power switch 97 interposed in the lead 96. A pilot light 98 is coupled between the leads 94 and 96 to indicate when the switch 97 is closed. The secondary coil 99 of the stepdown transformer 93 is coupled through a resistor 101 to a suitable rectifier 102, which produces a full wave rectified output at the terminals 103 of the rectifier. A capacitor 104 is coupled in parallel over the terminals 103, and the inductance coil 106 of the solenoid 48 is coupled through the switch 23 in parallel with the capacitor 104. An arc suppressing capacitor 107 is coupled in parallel with the switch 23.

Describing now the operation of the instant page turning device, sheets of music or the like can be inserted in desired sequence in the page holders 24 between the transparent sheets thereof. The book 54 is then mounted on the stand 21 by placing the lower end portion 62 into engagement with the lower retaining member 56, and then swinging the upper retaining member 59 down into engagement with the upper end portion 64 of the shaft 61. While the book is being thus mounted, the lever 84 is disposed to its extreme right position as shown in FIG- URE 1, so that the groove 57 is oriented parallel with the back support member 27 as shown. The knob 41 is then turned to its farthest clockwise position, thus lowering the carriage so that the trigger 22 is in its third operating position. All the page holders are then rotated on the shaft 61 to their loaded position which is to the right of the shaft 61, it being noted that the trigger 22 does not interfere with the movement of the page holders into such loaded position. With the page holders manually held in their loaded position, the knob 41 is then rotated counter-clockwise to bring the carriage into its uppermost position, and with the trigger 22 in its first operating position (solenoid not energized), all the page holders are retained in their loaded position by the obstruction of the trigger 22. If the page turner is to be used with the pages disposed in substantially horizontal position, it is desirable that a maximum of force be available to turn the pages from their loaded to unloaded positions. Consequently, the lever 84 can be moved to its extreme left position, thereby rotating the retaining member 56 and shaft 61 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 6, thereby increasing the tensioning of all the springs 26. If the stand is to be used in a substantially vertical position, the lever 84 can remain in its right hand position as shown in FIGURE 1. For intermediate positions between horizontal and vertical, the lever 84 can be positioned accordingly between its right hand and left hand positions to achieve the proper amount of tension in the springs 26.

When the switch 23 is closed, the coil 106 of the solenoid 48 is energized. More particularly, and with referonce to FIGURE 12, the transformer 93 steps down the A.C. line voltage to about 57 volts, which builds up a somewhat higher D.C. voltage on the capacitor 104 when the switch 23 is open. When the switch 23 is then closed, the D.C. voltage from the capacitor 104 is applied to the coil 106 thereby energizing the solenoid 48. The switch 23 prefenably is of a type that stays in closed position until operated again, at which time it moves into open position. While the switch 23 is closed, the dropping resistor 101 brings down the voltage at the coil 106 to about 35 volts, which is sufficiently low to avoid overheating, yet which holds the solenoid in energized position.

When the solenoid is energized, the trigger 22 is caused to move into its second operating position which is depicted in FIGURES 2, 3 and 7. In such second operating position, the trigger 22 aligns with the opening 83 in the outermost page holder 24', thus freeing the latter page holder for movement under the force of its spring 26 into unloaded position. When switch 23 is subsequently operated to open the circuit to the solenoid coil 106, the trigger 22 is moved back into its first operating position by the force of the tension spring 53, thus aligning it with the opening 82 in the next page holder to free it for movement into unloaded position. As the switch 23 is then moved back and forth between its first and second operating positions, the page holders 24 are released sequentially for movement into unloaded position.

I claim:

1. A page turning device comprising, in combination, a stand, a release trigger mounted on said stand and movable between three operating positions, means for selectively moving said trigger to any one of said positions, a plurality of page holders mounted on said stand and each being movable relative to said stand between loaded and unloaded positions, resilient means associated with each holder urging it into unloaded position, said trigger when in said first operating position being disposed in obstructive relation with a first plurality of said holders for restraining the latter against movement from loaded to unloaded position and being disposed out of obstructive relation with a second plurality of said holders, said trigger when in said second operating position being disposed in obstructive relation with said second plurality of holders and out of obstructive relation with said first plurality of holders, said first plurality of holders being disposed in alternating stacked relation with said second plurality of holders when both pluralities of holders are in said loaded position, and said trigger when in its third said operating position being disposed out of obstructive alignment with all of said holders.

2. A page turning device comp-rising, in combination, a stand, a release trigger mounted on said stand and movable between three operating positions, means for selectively moving said trigger to any one of said operating positions, a book removably mounted on said stand and including a plurality of page holders each movable relative to said stand between loaded and unloaded positions, re-

silient means associated with each said holder urging it into its unloaded position, each said holder having a portion disposed adjacent said trigger when said holder is in said loaded position thereof, said portions being disposed in stacked overlying relation when their respective holders are in loaded position, said trigger when in its first and second operating positions being disposed in the general path of movement of said holder portions from loaded to unloaded position, a first plurality of alternate ones of said stacked portions having openings therein positioned in alignment with said trigger when in its first said operating position, said first plurality of portions being positioned in obstructing alignment with said trigger when in its second said operating position, said remaining plurality of portions having openings therein positioned in alignment with said trigger when in its second said operating posit-ion, said remaining portions being positioned in obstructing alignment with said trigger when in its first said operating position, and said trigger when in its third said operating position being disposed out of obstructing relation with all of said holders and portions thereof.

3. A page turning device as described in claim 2 further including a carriage member movably mounted on said stand and movable between two reference positions thereon, said release trigger being movably mounted on said carriage and movable between two reference positions in relation to said carriage, said trigger being disposed in its first said operating position when said carriage is in one of'its said two positions and said trigger is in one of its two said reference positions relative to said carriage, said trigger being disposed in its second operating position when said carriage is in said one position thereof and said trigger is in its other of said two refer- 'ence positions relative to said carriage, and said trigger being disposed in its third said operating position when said carriage is in its other of said two positions, first means being provided for selectively moving said carriage between said two positions thereof, and second means being provided for moving said trigger between said two reference positions thereof in relation to said carriage.

4. A page turning device as described in claim 1 further defined by adjusting means for varying the force applied to each holder by said resilient means when said holder is in said loaded position, thereby controlling the force and speed with which said holders move from said loaded to said unloaded positions.

5. A page turning device comprising, in combination, a stand, a carriage member pivotally mounted on said stand and being movable between two positions thereon, means resiliently urging said carriage into a first of said two positions, a manually operable knob rotatably mounted on said stand, a cam member secured to said knob and engageable with said carriage for selectively moving the latter into its second position, a release trigger pivotally mounted on said carriage for movement between two positions relative to said carriage, means resiliently urging said trigger to a first of said positions relative to said carriage, an electrical solenoid mounted on said carriage and engaging said trigger for urging the latter into its second said position when said solenoid is energized, electrical circuit means coupled to said solenoid for selective energization thereof, said trigger having three operating positions relative to said stand, said trigger being disposed in a first of said operating positions when said carriage is in its second said position and said trigger is in its first said position relative to said carriage, said trigger being disposed in a second of said operating positions when said carriage is in said second position thereof and said trigger is in its second said position relative to said carriage, said trigger being disposed in its third said operating position when said carriage is in its first said position, a book removably mounted on said stand and having a plurality of page holders movable between loaded and unloaded positions in relation to said stand, resilient means associated with each holder urging it into unloaded position, each said holder having a portion disposed adjacent said trigger when said holder is in its loaded position, said portions being disposed in stacked overlying relation when their respective holders are in loaded position, said trigger being disposed in the general path of movement of said holder portions from loaded to unloaded position when said carriage is in said second position thereof, a first plurality of alternate ones of said stacked portions having openings therein positioned in alignment with said trigger when in its first said operating position, said first plurality of portions being positioned in obstructive alignment with said trigger when in its second said operating position, said remaining plurality of portions having openings therein positioned in alignment with said trigger when in its second said op erating position, said remaining portions being positioned in obstructive alignment with said trigger when in its first said operating position, and said trigger being disposed out of obstructive alignment with said portions when in said third operating position.

6. A page turning device comprising, in combination, a stand having a generally planar back support member and a bottom support member having an upper surface extending transversely from said back support, a lower retaining member mounted on said stand adjacent said surface, an upper retaining member mounted on said back support in opposed spaced relation with said lower retaining member, a shaft removably mounted between said retaining members, a plurality of page holders each mounted on said shaft in generally parallel relation therewith and rotatable thereon between an unloaded position disposed on one side of said shaft generally parallel to said back support member and a loaded position disposed on the other side of said shaft generally parallel to said back support member, resilient means associated with each said holder urging it into said unloaded position, a release trigger mounted on said stand adjacent said upper surface and movable between three operating positions, means for selectively moving said trigger to any one of said three operating positions, a first plurality of said holders having a lower portion positioned in obstructing relation with said trigger when in said first operating position for restraining the latter holders against movement from loaded to unloaded position, said first plurality of holders being unobstructed by said trigger when in said second operating position, a second plurality of said holders having a lower portion positioned in obstructing relation with said trigger when in said second operating position for restraining the latter holders against movement from loaded to unloaded position, said second plurality of holders being unobstructed by said trigger when in said first operating position, said first plurality of holders being disposed in alternating stacked relation with said second plurality of holders when both pluralities of holders are in said loaded position, and said trigger when in said third operating position being disposed out of obstructive relation with all of said holders.

7. A device as described in claim 6 wherein each said holder is provided with a pair of space annular bearings concentrically mounted on said shaft for rotation thereon, said pair of bearings for each holder being spaced the same distance apart with the respective bearings of one holder being spaced axially on said shaft in relation to the other bearings, a plurality of power members each secured rigidly to said shaft adjacent one of the bearings for each holder for restraining the latter bearing against axial movement in one direction relative to said shaft, the other of said bearings for each holder having a central recess therein defining an annular space surrounding said shaft, said resilient means including a coil spring disposed in each said annular space surrounding said shaft and secured between said shaft and corresponding other bearing for urging the corresponding holder into its unloaded position, and said holders each being mounted on said corresponding bearings at spaced radial positions in relation to said shaft whereby adjacent ones of said holders are positionable in generally parallel overlying relation.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said lower retaining member is rotatably mounted on said stand for rotation about an axis aligned with said shaft, said shaft being rotatable with said lower retaining member, manually operable means for selectively moving said lower retaining member to different rotational positions, and means for restraining said lower retaining member against rotational movement when positioned in one of said selected rotational positions thereof.

9. A page turning device comprising, in combination, a stand having a generally planar back support member and a bottom support member having an upper surface extending transversely from said back support member, a lower retaining member provided on said surface adjacent said back support and having an upper end with a diametrically extending groove therein, a clamp member hingedly mounted on said back support in opposed spaced relation with said retaining member, a carriage member pivotally mounted on said stand subjacent said upper surface and being movable between two positions, means resiliently urging said carriage into a first of said two positions disposed farthest from said surface, a manually operable knob rotatably mounted on said stand, a cam member secured to said knob and engageable with said carriage for selectively moving the latter into its second position disposed closest to said surface, said surface having an elongated slot therein disposed above said carriage and generally parallel with said back support, a release trigger pivotally mounted on said carriage for movement in a plane generally parallel to said back support and having an upper portion extending through said slot and positioned above said upper surface when said carriage is in said second position thereof, said trigger being movable between two positions relative to said carriage, means resiliently urging said trigger to a first of said positions relative to said carriage, an electrical rotary solenoid mounted on said carriage and coupled to said trigger for urging the latter into its second position relative to said carriage when said solenoid is energized, electrical circuit means including an operating switch coupled to said solenoid for selective energization thereof, said switch being positioned remotely from said stand, said trigger having three operating positions relative to said stand, said trigger being disposed in its first said operating position when said carriage is in its second said position and said trigger is in its first said position relative to said carriage, said trigger being disposed in its second operating position when said carriage is in its second said position and said trigger is in its second position relative to said carriage, and said trigger being disposed in its third operating position when said carriage is in its first said position, a book removably mounted on said stand and having a shaft positionable between said retaining member and clamp members, a ridge portion provided on the bottom end of said shaft for engagement with said groove for fixedly securing said shaft in rotational position relative to said lower retaining member, said book including a plurality of page holders mounted on said shaft for rotation about the axis thereof, said holders each including a relatively rigid longitudinal portion disposed parallel to and adjacent said shaft and a bottom portion extending perpendicularly from said longitudinal portion and disposed adjacent to and spaced upwardly from said surface, said holder having a pairof overlying transparent sheets secured to said longitudinal and bottom portions thereof, said holders each having a pair of spaced annular bearings concentrically mounted on said shaft for rotation thereon, each said holder being movable on its bearings from a loaded position parallel with said back support member on one side of said shaft adjacent said trigger to an unloaded position parallel with back support member on the other side of said shaft, said pair of bearings for each holder being spaced the same distance apart with the respective bearings of one holder being spaced axially on said shaft in relation to the remaining bearings, a plurality of collar members each secured rigidly to said shaft axially adjacent one of the bearings of each holder for restraining the latter bearings against axial movement in one direction relative to said shaft, the other of said bearings for each holder having a central recess therein defining an annular space surrounding said shaft, a coil torsion spring disposed in each said annular space surrounding said shaft and secured between said shaft and corresponding other bearing for urging the corresponding holder into its unloaded position, a pair of right angle bracket members secured between each said longitudinal holder portion and the corresponding pair of annular bearings for said holder, said longitudinal portion and brackets of each said holder being spaced radially in relation to said shaft with respect to the remaining holders and brackets thereof whereby adjacent ones of said holders are positionable in generally parallel overlying relation to one another, a first plurality of said holders having said bottom portion thereof positioned in obstructing relation with said trigger when in said first operating position for restraining the latter holders against movement from loaded to unloaded position, said first plurality of holders being unobstructed by said trigger when in said second operating position, a second plurality of said holders having said bottom portions thereof positioned in obstructive relation with said trigger when in said second operating position for restraining the latter holders against movement from loaded to unloaded position, said second plurality of holders being unobstructed by said trigger when in said first operating position, said first plurality of holders being disposed in alternating stack relation with said second plurality of holders when both pluralities of holders are in said loaded positions thereof, and said trigger when in said third op erating position being disposed out of obstructive relation with all of said holders, said lower retaining member being mounted for rotation about an axis disposed in alignment with the axis of said shaft, a manually operable lever extending radially from said lower retaining member for moving the latter into selective rotational positions, and means for selectively retaining said lower retaining member in said selected rotational positions thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 614,372 11/1898 Ramus 40103 X 1,131,125 3/1915 Ellman 84495 3,145,492 8/1964 Moller 40l03 3,220,126 11/1965 Gabrielson 40103 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner. W. J. CONTRERAS, Assistant Examiner,

Claims

9. A PAGE TURNING DEVICE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A STAND HAVING A GENERALLY PLANAR BACK SUPPORT MEMBER AND A BOTTOM SUPPORT MEMBER HAVING AN UPPER SURFACE EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY FROM SAID BACK SUPPORT MEMBER, A LOWER RETAINING MEMBER PROVIDED ON SAID SURFACE ADJACENT SAID BACK SUPPORT AND HAVING AN UPPER END WITH A DIAMETRICALLY EXTENDING GROOVE THEREIN, A CLAMP MEMBER HINGEDLY MOUNTED ON SAID BACK SUPPORT IN OPPOSED SPACED RELATION WITH SAID RETAINING MEMBER, A CARRIAGE MEMBER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID STAND SUBJACENT SAID UPPER SURFACE AND BEING MOVABLE BETWEEN TWO POSITIONS, MEANS RESILIENTLY URGING SAID CARRIAGE INTO A FIRST OF SAID TWO POSITIONS DISPOSED FARTHEST FROM SAID SURFACE, A MANUALLY OPERABLE KNOB ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID STAND, A CAM MEMBER SECURED TO SAID KNOB AND ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID CARRIAGE FOR SELECTIVELY MOVING THE LATTER INTO ITS SECOND POSITION DISPOSED CLOSEST TO SAID SURFACE, SAID SURFACE HAVING AN ELONGATED SLOT THEREIN DISPOSED ABOVE SAID CARRIAGE AND GENERALLY PARALLEL WITH SAID BACK SUPPORT, A RELEASE TRIGGER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID CARRIAGE FOR MOVEMENT IN A PLANE GENERALLY PARALLEL TO SAID BACK SUPPORT AND HAVING AN UPPER PORTION EXTENDING THROUGH SAID SLOT AND POSITIONED ABOVE SAID UPPER SURFACE WHEN SAID CARRIAGE IS IN SAID SECOND POSITION THEREOF, SAID TRIGGER BEING MOVABLE BETWEEN TWO POSITIONS RELATIVE TO SAID CARRIAGE, MEANS RESILIENTLY URGING SAID TRIGGER TO A FIRST OF SAID POSITIONS RELATIVE TO SAID CARRIAGE, AN ELECTRICAL ROTARY SOLENOID MOUNTED ON SAID CARRIAGE AND COUPLED TO SAID TRIGGER FOR URGING THE LATTER INTO ITS SECOND POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID CARRIAGE WHEN SAID SOLENOID IS ENERGIZED, ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT MEANS INCLUDING AN OPERATING SWITCH COUPLED TO SAID SOLENOID FOR SELECTIVE ENERGIZATION THEREOF, SAID SWITCH BEING POSITIONED REMOTELY FROM SAID STAND, SAID TRIGGER HAVING THREE OPERATING POSITIONS RELATIVE TO SAID STAND, SAID TRIGGER BEING DISPOSED IN ITS FIRST SAID OPERATING POSITION WHEN SAID CARRIAGE IS IN ITS SECOND SAID POSITION AND SAID TRIGGER IS IN ITS FIRST SAID POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID CARRIAGE, SAID TRIGGER BEING DISPOSED IN ITS SECOND OPERATING POSITION WHEN SAID CARRIAGE IS IN ITS SECOND SAID POSITION AND SAID TRIGGER IS IN ITS SECOND POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID CARRIAGE, AND SAID TRIGGER BEING DISPOSED IN ITS THIRD OPERATING POSITION WHEN SAID CARRIAGE IS IN ITS FIRST SAID POSITION, A BOOK REMOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID STAND AND HAVING A SHAFT POSITIONABLE BETWEEN SAID RETAINING MEMBER AND CLAMP MEMBERS, A RIDGE PORTION PROVIDED ON THE BOTTOM END OF SAID SHAFT FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID GROOVE FOR FIXEDLY SECURING SAID SHAFT IN ROTATIONAL POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID LOWER RETAINING MEMBER, SAID BOOK INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF PAGE HOLDERS MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT FOR ROTATION ABOUT THE AXIS THEREOF, SAID HOLDERS EACH INCLUDING A RELATIVELY RIGID LONGITUDINAL PORTION DISPOSED PARALLEL TO AND ADJACENT SAID SHAFT AND A BOTTOM PORTION EXTENDING PERPENDICULARLY FROM SAID LONGITUDINAL PORTION AND DISPOSED ADJACENT TO AND SPACED UPWARDLY FROM SAID SURFACE, SAID HOLDER HAVING A PAIR OF OVERLYING TRANSPARENT SHEETS SECURED TO SAID LONGITUDINAL AND BOTTOM PORTIONS THEREOF, SAID HOLDERS EACH HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED ANNULAR BEARINGS CONCENTRICALLY MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT FOR ROTATION THEREON, EACH SAID HOLDER BEING MOVABLE ON ITS BEARINGS FROM A LOADED POSITION PARALLEL WITH SAID BACK SUPPORT MEMBER ON ONE SIDE OF SAID SHAFT ADJACENT SAID TRIGGER TO AN UNLOADED POSITION PARALLEL WITH BACK SUPPORT MEMBER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID SHAFT, SAID PAIR OF BEARINGS FOR EACH HOLDER BEING SPACED THE SAME DISTANCE APART WITH THE RESPECTIVE BEARINGS OF ONE HOLDER BEING SPACED AXIALLY ON SAID SHAFT IN RELATION TO THE REMAINING BEARINGS, A PLURALITY OF COLLAR MEMBERS EACH SECURED RIGIDLY TO SAID SHAFT AXIALLY ADJACENT ONE OF THE BEARINGS OF EACH HOLDER FOR RESTRAINING THE LATTER BEARINGS AGAINST AXIAL MOVEMENT IN ONE DIRECTION RELATIVE TO SAID SHAFT, THE OTHER OF SAID BEARINGS FOR EACH HOLDER HAVING A CENTRAL RECESS THEREIN DEFINING AN ANNULAR SPACE SURROUNDING SAID SHAFT, A COIL TORSION SPRING DISPOSED IN EACH SAID ANNULAR SPACE SURROUNDING SAID SHAFT AND SECURED BE-