Combination book protector and reading prop

Claim 1

For use with a conventional book having front and back covers and an intermediate spine to which the pages are bound, a combination book protector and reading prop comprising a pair of stiff panels having a size comparable to that of the book covers and adapted to be placed against the outer surfaces of the book covers, respectively, a flexible connector between said panels adapted to extend across the spine of the book, means articulating the upper edges of said panels in hinged relation to the corresponding upper edges of the book covers, said articulating means comprising flaps of stiff material hingedly connected to the upper edges of said panels and adapted to lie flat against the inner surfaces of said book covers, respectively, an opening in each of said flaps, whereby the panels can overlie and protect the book when it is closed and can be swung rearwardly away from the book covers to serve as props when the book is opened, and a single flexible band having ends secured to said prop panels, said band extending forwardly from its end and adapted to overlie the pages of an open book, and said band extending through said openings in said flaps, and means for preventing said band from being removed from said openings by movement with respect to said flaps in a direction away from said articulating means, so that said band serves simultaneously (a) to limit the rearward swing of said panels, (b) to hold the book pages down, and (c) to prevent the book covers from accidentally sliding out from between their respective panels and flaps.