One-Handed Book Holder with Adjustable Arm and Line
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing book stands are cumbersome and inefficient, requiring multiple steps and unnatural hand movements to turn pages, and often fail to accommodate books of varying thickness or binding resilience, leading to page damage and limited usability.
Innovation Solution
A book holder with a support system that includes a line attached to an adjustable arm, allowing seamless and natural page turning, accommodating any book size, and enabling one-handed operation without damaging pages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a strap is placed transversely across the book to hold it open, then the book can be held open without hands, but the process of removing the strap, turning the page, and re-engaging the strap requires many extra movements and is time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The book holder is divided into two independent clamps that can operate separately. Each clamp can be opened and closed independently, allowing one clamp to remain engaged while the other is opened for page turning. This segmentation eliminates the need to completely disengage and re-engage a single strap mechanism, significantly reducing the time and movements required for page turning while maintaining hand-free reading capability.
2Ease of operation
If two flexible metal tabs are used to press down both sides of an open book, then the book can be held open, but the mechanism requires around 7 individual steps to unlock, turn the page, and reengage, making it cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The book holder uses two separate clamps instead of a single complex mechanism with multiple steps. Each clamp is simple in design and can be operated independently with minimal steps. This segmentation reduces the overall complexity from 7 individual steps to just a few simple operations per clamp, making the device easier to operate while maintaining effective book holding capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamps are designed to be dynamically adjustable, allowing them to be quickly opened and closed as needed. The dynamic design enables the clamps to adapt to different book thicknesses and allows for rapid operation during page turning, reducing the number of steps required compared to static or rigid mechanisms.
3Device complexity
If a fixed-length strap is used to hold the book open, then the structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate different thickness books or different binding resilience books
Solution Approach 1:
The clamps incorporate adjustable components that allow the user to modify the clamp's opening width and gripping force according to different book thicknesses and binding types. This dynamic adjustability enables a single simple structure to accommodate a wide variety of books, from thin paperback to thick hardcover, without compromising structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp design allows for parameter changes in terms of opening dimension and applying force, enabling the same basic structure to adapt to different book characteristics. By adjusting these parameters, the clamp can effectively hold various book sizes and types while maintaining structural simplicity.
4Strength
If metal tabs or rigid structures are used to press down the book pages, then the book can be held open securely, but the rubbing and pressure damage the edges of books and pages over time
Solution Approach 1:
The clamps utilize flexible materials that can conform to the book's surface and apply gentle, distributed pressure rather than concentrated force from rigid metal tabs. This flexibility reduces rubbing and friction damage to the pages and book edges while maintaining sufficient holding force to keep the book open securely.
Solution Approach 2:
The design converts the potential harm of rigid pressure into a beneficial gentle gripping force by using flexible clamp materials. The flexibility allows the clamp to adapt to the book's surface contours, distributing the holding force evenly and preventing the concentrated rubbing that causes damage, thus turning a potential harmful rigid structure into a beneficial gentle holding mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
One embodiment where a support holds the book, and an arm is pivotally attached to near the center of the support. It rotates the same way with a book. The arm can be releasably locked to the support. The arm is placed adjacent to the support so it can be pried open. One end of the line is attached to the distal end of the arm. The other is anchored to the opposite end of the support. The length of the line across the support can be changed. The arm can be in the open position or the closed position. An open book is sandwiched between the support and the line in the closed position.