Adjustable Inclination Reading/Writing Board

Historically, it has been desirable to read and write on an inclined surface rather than the horizontal surface of a table or desk. Human factor studies have established the benefits of less fatigue and greater efficiency. Prior to the present invention, the apparatus available have been cumbersome, complex and expensive. For example, the invention disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,401,458 to Boon incorporates sliding strips to grip the table top, a movable pivot location for the inclination feature, a separate writing surface support structure, a rotable writing surface in its own plane, and individual inclination support elements which must be separately manipulated by the user. The number of adjustments available and the ensuing complexity inhibits the economic usefulness of the device. Also, the writing surface does not collapse to a horizontal work surface.

One object of this invention is to provide a simple inclined reading/writing board to be positioned on a table or desk. Another object is to provide a reading/writing board that is easily adjustable in inclination by manipulating one control lever. Another object is to provide a reading/writing board that can be adjusted to lie flat on a table or desk top. Another object is to provide a reading/writing board with a minimum of simple parts which will lead to low manufacturing costs.

The present invention is composed of a planar reading/writing board element pivotally attached at its rear face near its lowest or bottom edge to base strips which rest on the table top. A wire support in the shape of an inverted letter "U" is pivotally attached to the rear face of the reading/writing board near its vertical midpoint and ears on the wire support/selectively engage notches in the top surface of the base strips to change the inclination. An extended ear on the wire support engages an unlatching bar. Operating the unlatching bar allows the reading/writing board to be adjusted to a lower position or to a horizontal position, if desired. The horizontal position capability is important since some tasks require it, and it is not desirable to remove the present invention from the table top. The use of the unlatching bar or simply moving one of the ears directly allows adjustment by manipulating one control surface since the ears are directly coupled and disengage simultaneously.

FIG. 1 shows a side elevation of the adjustable inclination reading/writing board at inclination of 45 degrees.

FIG. 2 shows a side elevation of the invention in the zero inclination or horizontal position.

FIG. 3 shows a rear elevation of the invention at a 45 degree inclination.

FIG. 4 shows the disengagement control arm.

FIG. 1 shows the reading/writing board member 1 with a protruding lip 10 extending from the front face 17 along the bottom edge nearest the user. A pair of brackets 4 are attached to the rear face 18 of the reading/writing board member. A pivot rod 11 passes through cylindrical holes in the brackets 4 and through holes in the base strips 2, thus pivotally coupling the reading/writing board element to the base strips. Further, the base strips are directly and rigidly attached to the pivot rod 11, thereby establishing the spacing between the base strips and that they lie in the same plane. Tubular spacers, 19 are used between the brackets 4 and the base strips 2 on pivot rod 11 to limit motion between the reading/writing board element and the base strips and pivot rod assembly in the direction of the axis of the pivot rod 11. The base strips have a lip 6 protruding downward that contacts the edge of the table nearest the user. The bottom surface 7 of the base strips 2 contact the top surface of the table. The top surface of the base strips 2 have a series of transverse notches 8. At approximately one-half of the height of the reading/writing board member 1 on its rear face 18 are located another set of brackets 5. These brackets 5 pivotally attach the inverted letter " U" shaped prop element 3 to the reading/writing board member 1. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the prop element 3 is formed of wire rod such that it can selectively engage the notches 8 in the base strips 2 with the extensions 12 and 9. The prop element has an extended side 9 which also engages a hole 14 in the adjustment member 13. The notches 8 in the base strips 2 are configured to allow the extensions 12 and 9 of the prop element 3 to escape when moved in the direction toward the lip 6 thus creating ratchetting action when increasing the inclination; and to hold the extensions 12 and 9 in the opposite direction, thus supporting the forces against the reading/writing board 1. The adjustment member 13 releases the extensions 9 and 12 from the notches in the decreasing inclination direction. This is accomplished by the user pressing down on knob 16 which causes the adjustment member 13 to pivot about the fulcrum 15 that is resting on the table surface, thus raising hole 14 and the prop element extension 9 which also simultaneously raises extension 12. The extension 9 can also be raised directly by the user without the benefit of the adjustment element 13, but the user is required to reach further to accomplish the adjustment, which is a marked disadvantage.

As can be seen in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the legs of prop element 3 will rest between the brackets 4 and brackets 5 and the base strips 2 when the reading/writing board 1 is folded to the horizontal position.