US3399782A - Book ends - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 3, 1968 R. E. BASCOM 3,399,782

BOOK ENDS Filed Feb. 6, 1967 RAYMOND E. BA SCOM I N VENTOR.

A TTORNE Y United States Patent Office 3,399,782 BOOK ENDS Raymond E. Bascom, P.0. Box 585, Keene, Tex. 76059 Filed'Feb. 6, 1967, Ser. No. 614,225 3 Claims. (Cl. 211-43) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pair of book ends between which a row of books are held by means of a length of interconnecting elastic. As books are added to or removed from the row of books the elastic is extended or retracted. An arrangement of rollers within recesses in the walls of the book ends enable the length of elastic to be folded upon itself so as to increase its extensible length. In addition, the vertical member and the base of each book end are detachably interconnected so as to provide a collapsible construction for storage or shipping.

This invention relates to book ends and has reference to that type of construction wherein elastic is used for extending and retracting the ends as books are added to or removed from the row of books supported thereby. Particularly, the invention is directed to an arrangement of rollers within the book ends whereby the length of the elastic may be folded on itself so as to increase its extensible length. Generally, this is accomplished by providing at least one recess in each book end, mounting at least one transverse roller in the recess at a distance from the corner of the base and the vertical member, fastening an end of the elastic in the cavity at or near the referred to corner, positioning the elastic over and around the roller and connecting the remaining end of the elastic with the other book end where it is similarly mounted.

In addition to increasing the extensible length of the elastic for the purpose stated, it is an object of the invention to provide a simplified construction as compared with adjustable book ends having spring actuated rollers for drawing the ends together.

Another object is to provide, in addition to the foregoing objects, a collapsible construction for storage or shipping.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a pair of book ends according to the invention supporting a row of books.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the bottom of a base and the inner face of a vertical member and showing a preferred arrangement of elastic for the described purpose.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the construction illustrated in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 but showing a modified form of the invention.

FIGURE '5 is a broken front elevational and partly sectional view of a further modified form of the invention, and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the form of the 3,399,782 Patented S ept. 3, 1968 invention illustrated in FIGURE 5 and showing the same in collapsed position.

Referring now to-the form of the invention illustrated in FIGURES l-3, each of the pair of book ends includes a square orrectangular base 10 and a similarly shaped vertical member 11. The outer face of each vertical member 11 is rabbeted along its lower edge at 12 to receive the inner end of theadjoining base 10 where the two are detachably secured byscrews 13. Elongaterecesses 14 and 15 in the inner face of each vertical member 11 and the bottom surface of eachbase 10, respectively, and between their respective sides, intersect at the corner defined by the member and the base. Within the upper and lower ends of therecesses 14 of the vertical members 11 there aretransverse shafts 16 on whichrollers 17 are mounted for free rotation. Similarly, there is anothershaft 16 androller 17 in the outer or remote end of therecess 15 in eachbase 10. Theshafts 16 are inserted in transverse slots 16a as shown in FIGURE 2. A length of elastic 18 is attached at one end, as by astaple 19, to the inner surface of thelower recess 15 near the corner of thebase 10 and vertical member 11 of one book end, and then extends upwardly over theupper roller 17 in therecess 14, downwardly and around the corner roller, thence over the roller in the base and then back along its length to the other book end where it is mounted in the same manner. A length ofcloth tape 20 is attached bystaples 21 to the bottom of each vertical member 11 to retain and guide the elastic 18. The elastic 18 is of such length that it is in tension at all times, that is, even when there are nobooks 22 between the vertical members 11.

The form of the invention illustrated in FIGURE 4 is similar to the foregoing, except therecesses 14 androllers 17 in the vertical members 11 are eliminated. Instead, there is atransverse slot 23 in the bottom of each vertical member 11 Where the end of the elastic 18 is attached by astaple 19. As before, the length of the elastic extends over theroller 17 in therecess 15 in thebase 10, back along its length and out through theslot 23 to the companion book end, not shown, where the remaining end of the elastic is mounted in the same manner. Atape 20 is stapled or otherwise attached across theslot 23 to retain and guide the elastic 18.

The form of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6 has to do with means for quickly and conveniently compacting either described form of the invention. FIG- URE 5 is applicable to either form, but FIGURE 6 is specific to the first described form. Instead of thescrews 13, a pair ofdowels 24 project from the end of eachbase 10 and are received incorresponding sockets 25 in the vertical members 11. Thus, the vertical members 11 may be folded on theirrespective bases 10, with the elastic 18 serving as hinges, and then the two book ends may be stacked as shown in FIGURE 6.

The invention is not limited to the exemplary constructions herein shown and described, but may be made in various ways within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A pair of book ends wherein each book end is comprised of a base member and a vertical member defining a corner by intersection of their lower and inner surfaces, a longitudinal recess in one of said members perpendicular to said corner and extending through said corner, a freely rotatable roller transversely mounted in said recess and spaced from said corner, a length of elastic connected at one end to said book end adjacent said corner and extending over said roller and thence from said base member to the other said book end.

2. A pair of book ends as defined in claim 1 and wherein said recess and said roller are in the base member of each pair of book ends, a longitudinal vertical recess in each vertical member, upper and lower rollers transversely mounted in each said vertical recess, the last said roller being located adjacent and inwardly of said corner, and wherein said elastic extends upwardly, over and around said upper and lower rollers.

3. In a pair of book ends as defined inclaim 1 and 15 wherein said base members and said vertical members are demountably joined at their corners by dowels projecting from like members and received in sockets in the other members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 593,758 11/1 897 Alden 21143 1,395,825 11/1921 Hoffman 21l43 1,876,346 9/1932 Riddel 211-43 2,096,634 10/ 1937 Gilbert 21143 2,134,606 10/1938 Hackworth 10861 XR 2,284,849 6/ 1942 Schreyer 211-43 ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner;

ABRAHAM FRANKEL, Assistant Examiner.

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