Xdeck laptop/book-holder

Abstract

A system and method for using a book / laptop stand is disclosed. The book / laptop stand comprises a short or tall stand, and a mounting deck. The mounting deck comprises a mounting platform, mounting platform coupler, slide clamps, and slide clamp slots. The mounting platform can both rotate and swivel 360°, and is attached to either of the stands by the mounting coupler. Both the height and width of either stand can be adjusted, with optional detents to fix at predetermined locations. The mounting coupler rotationally frictionally couples the mounting platform to the stands. The mounting platform includes slide clamps that are adjustable in location within slide clamp slots. Detents can also be provided for the mounting coupler. The slide clamps include a locking lever, attached to which are a rolling ball that allows users of the book / laptop stand to substantially easily turn pages of a book.

Description

PRIORITY [0001] This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 734,553, filed Nov. 8, 2005, the entire contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The invention relates to book and laptop holders. More particularly, the invention relates to a system and method for holding a book or laptop such that a user, in a substantially supine position, can ergonomically read the book and / or operate the laptop. [0004] 2. Background Art [0005] Book holders have been in existence for a very long period of time, and some have been adopted and / or adapted for use with laptops. Traditionally, book holders are heavy, clumsy devices that are not very ergonomic, and have limited usefulness. For example, lecterns are typical of known book holding devices that, while relatively useful for holding a book up at a height that is convenient when standing and l...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015] It is therefore a general object of the invention to provide a combined book holder and laptop holder that will obviate or minimize problems of the type previously described.

[0016] It is an object of the invention to provide a combined book holder and laptop holder that is mechanically simple to set up, and allows a user to be in a vertical position, a substantially supine position, or any position in between, and yet still be able to effectively and efficiently use the combined book holder and laptop holder apparatus.

[0017] It is another object of the invention to provide a combined book holder and laptop holder that allows a user to retain books and laptops in such a manner that they are securely held, even when the user is in a substantially supine position.

[0018] It is still another object of the invention to provide a combined book holder and laptop holder that allows the user to retain a book in any position, yet still be able to easily turn the pages of the book, and not have the book fall off, or out of, or become dislodged from the combined book holder and laptop holder.

[0024] Still further according to the first aspect of the present invention, the first and second cross bars are replaced by a single cross bar having a first and second end, and the single cross bar is configured to frictionally engage the angled portion of the first and second base legs, and the stand further means for adjusting a width of the stand. The means for adjusting the width of the stand according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises adjustment of the frictional engagement at the second ends of the first and second L-shaped cross bars thereby adjusting the distance between the first and second base legs.

[0038] According to the second aspect of the present invention, the base includes a first and second base leg, each of the base legs including the twist lock, a first outer tube and a first inner tube, and a spring coupled between the first outer tube and the first inner tube, and wherein the steps of raising and lowering the height of the base comprises raising the inner tube up in relation to the outer tube via an expansion force provided by the spring, and lowering the inner tube in relation to outer tube by preventing the inner tube from dropping via the expansion force provided by the spring.

Problems solved by technology

Traditionally, book holders are heavy, clumsy devices that are not very ergonomic, and have limited usefulness.

For example, lecterns are typical of known book holding devices that, while relatively useful for holding a book up at a height that is convenient when standing and lecturing, are far less useful when sitting at a table or desk, or reclining.

Furthermore, there is no mechanism for retaining a book—let alone a laptop—should the user wish to view the book (or laptop) at an angle greater than 90° from the horizontal.

The book holder disclosed in the '021 patent is a large, unwieldy, mechanically complex apparatus that must be attached to a wall when the user is in a supine position.

The '856 patent, aside from its obvious mechanical complexity, suffers in that the page holders are not substantially frictionless, and therefore it appears a user would encounter significant resistance in turning and retaining pages of a book.

Further still, the book holder disclosed in the '856 patent would be ill suited for holding laptops.

The book holder disclosed in the '857 patent is ill suited for holding a laptop, or for even holding a book such that a user can read it while substantially supine.

The book holder disclosed in the '092 patent is ill suited for holding a laptop, or for even holding a book such that a user can read it while substantially supine.

While the book holder disclosed in the '155 patent can allegedly be used to hold a book while the user is supine, such an operation would be unwieldy, and particularly ill suited for use in retaining a laptop while the user is in the supine position.

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