Document holder for computer workstation

• US 20040178317A1
• Filed: 03/13/2003
• Published: 09/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vu Ryte, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Vu Ryte, Inc.
• Inventors: Ramey, Thomas B. III, Calfee, Clifford T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,100,883 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/441.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 19/06 with adjustable top leaf
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/045 Fastening means for paper sheet; Paper trays; Accessories for typists, e.g. line indicators
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0094 Copyholder for VDU screen
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/918 Ancillary device support associated with a video display screen

Abstract

A document holder, adapted for use at a computer workstation or word processor, includes an easel supported by spaced apart support arms. The easel and the support arms are connected to each other at respective pivot connections to provide for angular adjustment of the easel with respect to the arms. The easel includes a first member connected to the support arms and a second member which is movable relative to the first member in a downward direction or a direction toward an operator of the document holder. The first and second easel members include respective retainer and support rail parts provided with detents for selectively locking the second easel member in a selected working position with respect to the first easel member. A third easel member is supported on the first easel member for extension in a direction opposite that of the second easel member.

Claims

1. A document holder adapted for use in conjunction with a keyboard and a video monitor unit, said document holder comprising:

a document support easel comprising a first easel member and a second easel member, said second easel member being connected to said first easel member and being movable in a direction generally downwardly with respect to said first easel member to provide for one of a selected position of a document to be supported by said easel and a size of said document to be supported by said easel; and

at least one support member operable to support said easel.

2. The document holder set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said first easel member is supported by spaced apart support arms and said first easel member and said support arms include cooperating pivot members for supporting said easel for angular adjustment with respect to said support arms.

3. The document holder set forth in claim 2 wherein:

said first easel member includes spaced apart bosses thereon, said bosses and said support arms include cooperating pivot parts thereon, respectively.

4. The document holder set forth in claim 3 including:

lock members disposed on said bosses and engageable with said support arms for locking said easel in a selected angular position with respect to said support arms.

5. The document holder set forth in claim 3 wherein:

said first easel member and said bosses include cooperating support parts for locating said bosses on said first easel member in at least two selected working positions, respectively.

6. The document holder set forth in claim 2 wherein:

said support arms include elongated beam portions and counterweight means disposed on said beam portions and spaced from the point of connection of said support arms to said easel, respectively.

7. The document holder set forth in claim 2 wherein:

said support arms include portions cooperable with a support pedestal for connecting said support arms to said pedestal, respectively.

8. The document holder set forth in claim 7 wherein:

said support arms include support pins operable to project into cooperating pin receiving bores formed in said pedestal.

9. The document holder set forth in claim 7 wherein:

said pedestal includes elongated support rails operable to support said support arms for lateral adjustment with respect to said pedestal.

10. The document holder set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said second easel member includes a document support flange formed thereon.

11. The document holder set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said second easel member and said first easel member include cooperating support parts for supporting said second easel member in a selected working position of said second easel member with respect to said first easel member.

12. The document holder set forth in claim 11 wherein:

said second easel member includes spaced apart elongated support rail members engageable with cooperating retainers formed on said first easel member and said first easel member and said second easel member include cooperating detent means for adjustably holding said second easel member in a selected working position with respect to said first easel member.

13. The document holder set forth in claim 12 wherein:

each of said support rails includes spaced apart detent recesses formed thereon and said first easel member includes cooperating detent projections formed thereon and engageable with said support rails at said recesses, respectively.

14. The document holder set forth in claim 1 including:

cooperating stop means formed on said first and second easel members for limiting an extended position of said second easel member with respect to said first easel member.

15. The document holder set forth in claim 1 including:

a third easel member supported on said first easel member and operable to be moved to a selected working position in a direction opposite a position of said second easel member to aid in supporting a document on said easel.

16. The document holder set forth in claim 15 wherein:

said first and third easel members include cooperating stop means for limiting movement of said third easel member with respect to said first easel member.

17. The document holder set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said easel includes a recess for receiving a notepad facing an operator of said document holder for access to said notepad.

18. The document holder set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said easel includes a member formed thereon providing an erasable writing surface facing an operator of said document holder.

19. A document holder adapted for use in conjunction with a computer workstation and the like, said document holder comprising:

a document support easel forming a generally planar document support surface, said document support easel including a first easel member, a second easel member and a third easel member operably connected to each other, said first easel member being connected to support means operable to support said easel and said second and third easel members being slidably adjustable on and with respect to said first easel member for supporting documents of various sizes.

20. The document holder set forth in claim 19 wherein:

said first easel member is connected to said support means by cooperating pivot connections for supporting said easel for angular adjustment with respect to said support means.

21. The document holder set forth in claim 19 wherein:

said second easel member includes a document support flange formed thereon and said second easel member is connected to said first easel member for a slidably adjustable working position in a direction generally downwardly with respect to said first easel member.

22. The document holder set forth in claim 21 wherein:

said third easel member is slidably supported on said first easel member for selective adjustment to a working position in a direction generally upwardly with respect to said first easel member.

23. The document holder set forth in claim 22 wherein:

said second and third easel members include means cooperable with said first easel member for holding said second and third easel members in selected working positions with respect to said first easel member, respectively.