Book-holder

Claim 1

A book holder comprising: a longitudinal shelf having an upper surface adapted to support an opened book, said shelf having forward and rearward ends and spaced opposite upwardly extending side edges; a bracket supporting said shelf and adapted to be mounted to depend from a mounting body, said bracket including an upper horizontal plate portion and spaced vertical plate portions extending downwardly from opposite sides of said horizontal plate portion; swivel mechanism means, extending through said horizontal plate portion, for mounting said bracket on a mounting body such that said bracket and thereby said shelf are rotatable about a generally vertical axis with respect to said swivel mechanism means and the mounting body; means for mounting said rearward end of said shelf on said bracket such that said shelf is movable with respect to said bracket between a non-use position, whereat said shelf extends generally horizontally, and a use position, whereat said shelf extends downwardly from said bracket in a forwardly inclined manner, said mounting means comprising: L-shaped openings formed in rear positions of said vertical plate portions; generally horizontally extending slots formed in forward portions of said vertical plate portions; a first shaft extending through rearward-most portions of said side edges of said shelf and having opposite ends slidably positioned in said L-shaped openings; and a second shaft extending through said side edges of said shelf at positions forwardly of said first shaft and having opposite ends slidably positioned in said horizontally extending slots; and wings attached to said side edges of said shelf in a manner to enable said wings to be folded over said upper surface of said shelf and folded laterally outwardly therefrom when said shelf is in said use position thereof.