US3860212A

US3860212A - Telephone book holder

Info

Publication number: US3860212A
Application number: US432866A
Authority: US
Inventors: Rollie B Nawman
Original assignee: Benner Nawman Inc
Current assignee: Benner Nawman Inc
Priority date: 1972-09-18
Filing date: 1974-01-14
Publication date: 1975-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 1992-01-14

Abstract

A book container employs metal rods interleaved among the pages of a book or passed through the spine of a book to hold the book within hinged, semi-rigid covers which are spring-biased to a closed position. The container depends subjacently from a shelf and parallel to the edge of the shelf by means of a doublypivoting bracket. The bracket allows the container to be revolved onto the shelf and rotated to be positioned for normal viewing of the book. The pivot shaft includes a transverse radial pin riding an annular cam, the weight of the container when depending from the bracket causing the pin to traverse the cam surface and rotate the container and return it parallel to the shelf edge.

Description

United States Patent Nawman Jan. 14, 1975 [54] TELEPHONE BOOK HOLDER FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [75] lhvehtorl Rollie Nawmah, Oakland Calif- 463,234 7/1928 Germany 281/47 Assigneez Benner-Nawman Inc. walnut 1,256,845 5/1959 P1111106" 281/47 Creek, Calif. P E J F kl F rlmary xammerran 1n oss [22] Flled' 1974 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Harris Zimmerman 21 Appl. N0.2 432,866

Related U.S. Application Data [57] ABSTRACT I [62] Division of Ser. No. 290,134, Sept. 18, 1972, Pat. A. book container employs metal rods interleaved No. 3,791,677. 1 among the pages of a book or passed through the spine of a book to hold the book within hinged semi- [52] U.S. Cl. 248/447, 281/45 rigid covers which are spring-biased to a closed posi- [51] Int. Cl B42d 17/00 tion. The container depends subjacently from a shelf [58] Field of Search 248/447; 281/45, 4 and parallel to the edge of the shelf by means of a 50 doubly-pivoting bracket. The bracket allows the container to be revolved onto the shelf and rotated to be [56] References Cited positioned for normal viewing of the book. The pivot UNITED STATES PATENTS shaft includes a transverse radial pin riding an annular 1567133 12/1925 Goldstine 281/45 the Weight of the container when depending 2:258:306 10/1941 Trollen 281/45 from the bracket Causing the P to traverse the cam 2,839,064 6/1958 Haskin 281/47 Surface and rotate thecontainer and return it Parallel 3,028,701 4/1962 Popper 248 447 to the shelf edge. 3,275,279 9/1966 Caldwell et al. 248/447 3,617,074 11/1971 Rigolini 281/49 9 Clam, 13 Drawmg Flgures memio 3.860.212

. samur 2 mamas-m 3.860.212

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43 65 44 FIG...12

FIG..13

TELEPHONE BOOK HOLDER REFERENCE TO PREVIOUS APPLICATION This application is a division of my application Ser. No. 290,134 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,791,677, filed Sept. 18, 1972, in Group 351.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Reference books which receive frequent use have often been encased in protective enclosures. These books, such as telephone directories, catalogues, dictionaries, and the like, must be protected from wear while at the same time being readily available for viewing. And, because these books may be valuable or difficult to replace, they must be protected'from theft. Telephone directories in particular, because they are often subject to theft and to extreme wear conditions, must be housed in a protective container.

These directories, which are usually situated within the confines of a telephone booth, must be stored in a manner which does not interfere with the use of the telephone, yet must be available to the user. Prior art devices, which typically hold the directory in a hardcover enclosure suspended from a chain, are difficult to use and readily removed by thieves and vandals. Other devices, which pivot from below a shelf, hold the directory perpendicular to the shelf and jutting into the space occupied by the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a book container 4 which stores a book within semi-rigid hinged covers which completely enclose and protect the book. The book is held within the container by means of metal rods which are either interleaved among the pages of the book or passed through the spine of the book. The

I container depends subjacently from a shelf or other horizontal member by means of a shaft secured perpendicularly to the spine of the container. The shaft is held within a cylindrical opening in a pivot bracket by a ratdial pin through the shaft which impinges on-an annular cam member within the cylindrical opening. The weight of the hanging container causes the radial pin to ride the cam surface, rotating the shaft and container to a predetermined storage orientation.

The pivot bracket is joined to a supporting arm by a second pivot shaft transverse to the first shaft, allowing the container to be revolved from the storage position below the shelf to a viewing position on the shelf surface, while being rotated to the proper viewing orientation. The hinged covers may then be opened to view the book. After the book has been satisfactorily perused by the user, the hinged covers, which are spring biased, close to protect the book. The container is then revolved to below the shelf, where its weight causes it to rotate out of the way of the user.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of the present invention employed in a telephone booth.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a side view of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional side view of the cammed pivot. FIG. 5 is a front sectional view of the cammed pivot. FIG. 6 is a top view of the cammed pivot of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in FIG. 1, the book container 15 of the present invention typically may be employed in a telephone booth 16 containing a telephone 17 and a shelf 18. The container depends vertically from the shelf and, as shown in FIG. 2, parallel to the edge of the shelf. The vertical pivot 20 allows the container to be rotated clockwise or counterclockwise perpendicularly to the edge of the shelf, as shown in phantom line in FIG. 2.

The container is secured to the underside of the shelf by means of a bracket 22 which is bolted or otherwise affixed to the shelf. The end of the bracket projecting from the shelf is formed into a hinge 23 with the hinge pin horizontal and parallel to the shelf edge. This hinge allows the container 15 to be revolved from thestorage position shown in FIG. 3 to a position above the shelf where the book within the container may be used. At the same time the container may be rotated about vertical pivot 20 to properly orient the book within for read- The vertical pivot 20 consists of a housing 24 with a cylindrical passage 25 therethrough, as shown in FIG. 4. cylindrical hole 19 transverse and radial to passage. 25 receives the hinge pin of hinge 23. Within the passage 25 is an annular cam 26 with opposed spiral edges 27, as shown in FIG. 7. A transverse slot 28 cooperates with a pin 29 passed through a hole 30 in the housing to secure the cam vertically and rotationally in place. A pivot shaft 32 received within the cam carries a radial riding pin 34 which bears on the cam surface.

When the container is initially revolved to below the shelf, the pivot shaft 32 is in the position shown in phantom in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. The weight of the book and container causes the shaft 32 to descend vertically downward within the cam 26, the riding pin 34 riding on the cam surface and rotating the shaft either clockwise or counterclockwise, as shown in FIG. 7. The descent and rotation continues until the pin 34 comes to rest in the slot 36 of the cam; as shown in FIG. 5. The container 15 secured to the lower end of the shaft 32 is thus rotated parallel to the shelf, as shown in FIG. 2.

It should be noted that the shaft 32 and container 15 will always come to rest in the same position. And as shown in FIG. 6, despite the initial orientation of the container when revolved to below the shelf, the action of the cam and riding pin will return the container to desired position parallel to the shelf. Further, the doubly-pivoting bracket assembly, when properly installed, is virtually tamper-proof.

The lower end of the shaft 32 terminates in a square end 37 which is received in a square hole in the back of the container 15. A bolt or rivet or other means of securance is received through the hole in the back of the book and secured within an axial hole 38 in the shaft 32, affixing the container to the shaft. If it is desirable in a particular shelf or counter installation that the container comes to rest perpendicular to the edge of the structure, the container may be secured to the shaft in an orientation 90 from that shown in FIG. 4. If other orientations are desired the box end 37 of the shaft 32 may be modified accordingly.

The container of the present invention comprises covers 41 and 41 hinged to a back support 42. Cover 40 has sides 43 which protect the books 46 and fit within the sides 44 of the cover 41 to form a protective enclosure (as shown in FIG. 10) for the book. The covers are preferably formed of a stiff, flexible material which maintains its shape yet can withstand the bending of normal use. Within the back support and secured thereto is a rigid, arcuate spine 45, as shown in FIG. 11. The arcuate shape not only provides strength to the spine, but also allows the book enclosed within the container to be opened easily. The spine carries longitudinal strengthening members 47 which are formed in partial cylindrical crosssection, and longitudinal strengthening member 48 along the center of the spine.

A flange 49 projecting perpendicularly from the spine has spaced holes 50 therethrough with support rods 52 depending through the holes, as shown in FIG. 13, and being received by similarly spaced holes in a cooperating flange projecting from the other end of the spine. These support rods may pass through the backing of the book 46 or may be interleaved among its pages to securely affix the book within the container 15. The ends of the support rods may be bent or expanded to secure them to the flanges and thus prevent removal of the book from the container. 7

The

covers

40 and 41 are hinged to the container by means of opposed

longitudinal hinges

53 and 54. These hinges, which may be formed integrally with the spine 45 or otherwise secured to the spine, are formed of concentric cylindrical sectional members. As shown in detail in FIG. 12, the fixed portion of each hinge com+ prises an arcuate flange 55, and an inner arcuate member 56 spaced from the spine by support 57. The rotatable portion of the hinge comprises arcuate members 59-and 60, spaced apart by support 61. The

members

59 and 60 are rotatably received within member 56 and flange 55 respectively, thus eliminating any translational movement of the rotatable portion. The edge 62 of the member 56 limits the closed position of the cover 41 which is secured to the rotatable portion, while the edge 63 0f the member 56 limits the extent of the open position of the cover 41.

End pieces

65 and 66 secured to the spine of the container eliminate any longitudinal movement of the hinges. Springs 67, secured between the fixed and rotatable portions of the hinges, bias the

covers

40 and 41 to the closed position, assuring that the book within the container will remain protected when not in use.

Thus the present invention has disclosed and described a novel means of displaying oft-used reference material which assures that the reference material will be protected and stored unobtrusively when not in use, and will not easily by stolen or vandalized.

I claim:

1. A container for storing and displaying reference material, comprising a spine member, a pair of opposed fixed hinge members extending the-length of said spine member, a pair of opposed cover members, each of said cover members including a movable hinge member joined thereto and pivotally secured to one of said fixed hinge members, each of said fixed hinge members including first and second arcuate members extending linearly the length of said spine member, and a first web portion joining said first and second arcuate members.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein each of said movable hinge members includes third and fourth opposed arcuate members, and a second web portion joining said third and fourth arcuate members.

3. The container according to claim 1, further including resilient means for biasing said cover members together, said resilient means extending between each of said first web portions and the respective movable hinge member. I

4. The container according to claim 3, wherein said resilient means extends between said first and second web portions of cooperating hinge members.

5. The container according to claim 2, wherein said fourth arcuate member is slidably received within said first arcuate member, and said third arcuate member is slidably received within said second arcuate member.

6. The container according to claim 2, wherein said first arcuate member has a radius of curvature greater than that of said second, third and fourth arcuate members.

7. The container according to claim 2, wherein said fourth arcuate member has a radius of curvature member are slidably received within said annular gap. l= v l

Claims

1. A container for storing and displaying reference material, comprising a spine member, a pair of opposed fixed hinge members extending the length of said spine member, a pair of opposed cover members, each of said cover members including a movable hinge member joined thereto and pivotally secured to one of said fixed hinge members, each of said fixed hinge members including first and second arcuate members extending linearly the length of said spine member, and a first web portion joining said first and second arcuate members.

3. The container according to claim 1, further including resilient means for biasing said cover members together, said resilient means extending between each of said first web portions and the respective Movable hinge member.

7. The container according to claim 2, wherein said fourth arcuate member has a radius of curvature greater than that of said second and third arcuate members.

8. The container according to claim 2, wherein said third and fourth arcuate members define an annular space therebetween, and portions of said second arcuate member are slidably received within said annular space.

9. The container according to claim 2, wherein said first and second arcuate members define an annular gap therebetween, and portions of said fourth arcuate member are slidably received within said annular gap.