# US 11,297,941 B1 · Portable collapsible variable height book stand > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,297,941 B1 - Document ID: US11297941B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 17/138,315 - Filed: 2020-12-30 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2020-12-30 - Applicants: Chanoch Hadar - Inventors: Chanoch Hadar - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11297941B1 ## CPC - A47B 23/043: {adjustable, foldable} - F16M 11/2021: {around a horizontal axis (F16M11/2035 takes precedence)} - F16M 11/38: by folding {, e.g. pivoting or scissors tong mechanisms} - F16M 2200/024: by positive interaction, e.g. male-female connections - F16M 2200/028: by positive interaction, e.g. male-female connections - A47B: TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE (furniture jointing F16B) - F16M: FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS ## Abstract A book stand having three interconnected sections that is adjustable between a closed state where it is portable, and an open state, the open state being one of a number of heights, which height is selectable by the user to account for users of different sizes and users that are standing or sitting when using a book placed on the book stand. The middle section has a strut containing notches on both sides, one side for receiving a stem connected to the top section, the other side for receiving a stem from the bottom section, so that the user may adjust the height of the book stand for use on a surface for when the user wants to stand or sit down. Such book stands are useful for religious studies, particularly as a shtender. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A collapsible, portable, variable height book stand comprising: a bottom section, a middle section, and a top section, each section being generally planar and having a first height, a first end and a second end opposite the first end, a first end of the top section being pivotally secured to a first end of the middle section, the second end of the middle section being pivotally secured to a first end of the bottom section; the middle section further comprising a strut having a length, a first side and a second side, the first and second sides defining therebetween a thickness that is less than or equal to the first height of said middle section, a first plurality of notches on the first side of the strut and a second plurality of notches on the second side of the strut; the top section further comprising a first aperture having a first edge and a top section stem having a length, a first end and a second end, the first end of the top section stem being pivotally connected to the first edge of the top section, the second end of the top section stem having a contoured surface for engaging at least one of the first plurality of notches, the top section stem being pivotably moveable between a closed state wherein the top section stem is recessed within the first aperture of the top section, and an open state wherein the top section stem is engaged in one of the first plurality of notches; the bottom section further comprising a first aperture having a first edge and a stem having a length, a first end and a second end, the first end of the bottom section stem being pivotally connected to the first edge of the bottom section, the second end of the bottom section stem having a contoured surface for engaging at least one of the second plurality of notches, the bottom section stem being pivotably moveable between a closed state wherein the bottom section stem is recessed within the first aperture of the bottom section, and an open state wherein the bottom section stem is engaged in one of the second plurality of notches; wherein the book stand further comprises a closed state with the bottom, middle and top sections superimposed with their planar surfaces in parallel, and an open state having a book stand height selectable in response to the top section stem being engaged with one of the first plurality of notches and the bottom section stem being engaged with one of the second plurality of notches. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The book stand of claim 1 wherein the first plurality of notches further comprises a plurality of contours spaced apart along said strut, each contour having a recess including a corner for receiving the second end of the top section stem in a non-slip position; and the second plurality of notches further comprises a plurality of contours space apart along said strut, each contour having a recess and a corner for receiving the second end of the bottom section stem in a non-slip position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The book stand of claim 2 wherein each said contour further comprises an angular recess forming an angle between 90 degrees and 150 degrees. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The book stand of claim 2 wherein the second end of the top section stem further comprises a sharp second edge and a curved surface and the second end of the bottom section stem further comprises a sharp second edge and a curved surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The book stand of claim 4 wherein the top section further comprises a lip projecting from the second edge so that a book placed on the top section will not slide off when the top section is in an open position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The book stand of claim 1 wherein the top, middle, and bottom sections further comprise a wood material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The book stand of claim 6 further comprising a plurality of hinges to provide said pivotable connections. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The book stand of claim 1 wherein the middle section further comprises an aperture on either side of the strut. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The book stand of claim 1 wherein the top, middle and bottom sections consist essentially of a wood material. ### Claim 10 A book stand comprising: a bottom section, a middle section, and a top section, each section being generally planar and having a first height, a first end and a second end opposite the first end; and a strut mounted on the middle section, having a length, a first side and a second side, the first and second sides defining therebetween a thickness that is less than or equal to the first height of said middle section, a first plurality of notches on the first side of the strut and a second plurality of notches on the second side of the strut; a first end of the top section being pivotally secured to a first end of the middle section, the second end of the middle section being pivotally secured to a first end of the bottom section; the top section further comprising a first aperture having a first edge and a top section stem having a length, a first end and a second end, the first end of the top section stem being pivotally connected to the first edge of the top section, the second end of the top section stem having a contoured surface for engaging at least one of the first plurality of notches, the top section stem being pivotably moveable between a closed state wherein the top section stem is recessed within the first aperture of the top section, and an open state wherein the top section stem is engaged in one of the first plurality of notches; the bottom section further comprising a first aperture having a first edge and a stem having a length, a first end and a second end, the first end of the bottom section stem being pivotally connected to the first edge of the bottom section, the second end of the bottom section stem having a contoured surface for engaging at least one of the second plurality of notches, the bottom section stem being pivotably moveable between a closed state wherein the bottom section stem is recessed within the first aperture of the bottom section, and an open state wherein the bottom section stem is engaged in one of the second plurality of notches; wherein the book stand further comprises a closed state with the bottom, middle and top sections superimposed with their planar surfaces in parallel, and an open state having a book stand height selectable in response to the top section stem being engaged with one of the first plurality of notches and the bottom section stem being engaged with one of the second plurality of notches. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The book stand of claim 10 wherein the first plurality of notches further comprises a plurality of contours spaced apart along said strut, each contour having a recess including a corner for receiving the second end of the top section stem in a non-slip position; and the second plurality of notches further comprises a plurality of contours space apart along said strut, each contour having a recess and a corner for receiving the second end of the bottom section stem in a non-slip position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The book stand of claim 11 wherein each said contour further comprises an angular recess forming an angle between 90 degrees and 150 degrees. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The book stand of claim 11 wherein the second end of the top section stem further comprises a sharp second edge and a curved surface and the second end of the bottom section stem further comprises a sharp second edge and a curved surface. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The book stand of claim 13 wherein the top section further comprises a lip projecting from the second edge so that a book placed on the top section will not slide off when the top section is in an open position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The book stand of claim 10 wherein the top, middle, and bottom sections further comprise a wood material. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The book stand of claim 15 further comprising a plurality of hinges to provide said pivotable connections. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The book stand of claim 10 wherein the middle section further comprises an aperture on either side of the strut. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The book stand of claim 10 wherein the top, middle and bottom sections consist essentially of a wood material. ### Claim 19 A method comprising: providing a book stand with a bottom section, a middle section, and a top section, each section being generally planar and having a first height, a first end and a second end opposite the first end; providing a strut mounted on the middle section, having a length, a first side and a second side, the first and second sides defining therebetween a thickness that is less than or equal to the first height of said middle section, a first plurality of notches on the first side of the strut and a second plurality of notches on the second side of the strut; wherein a first end of the top section is pivotally secured to a first end of the middle section, the second end of the middle section being pivotally secured to a first end of the bottom section; wherein the top section further comprises a first aperture having a first edge and a top section stem having a length, a first end and a second end, the first end of the top section stem being pivotally connected to the first edge of the top section, the second end of the top section stem having a contoured surface for engaging at least one of the first plurality of notches, the top section stem being pivotably moveable between a closed state wherein the top section stem is recessed within the first aperture of the top section, and an open state wherein the top section stem is engaged in one of the first plurality of notches; wherein the bottom section further comprises a first aperture having a first edge and a stem having a length, a first end and a second end, the first end of the bottom section stem being pivotally connected to the first edge of the bottom section, the second end of the bottom section stem having a contoured surface for engaging at least one of the second plurality of notches, the bottom section stem being pivotably moveable between a closed state wherein the bottom section stem is recessed within the first aperture of the bottom section, and an open state wherein the bottom section stem is engaged in one of the second plurality of notches; adjusting the book stand between one of a closed state with the bottom, middle and top sections superimposed with their planar surfaces in parallel, and an open state having a book stand height selectable in response to the top section stem being engaged with one of the first plurality of notches and the bottom section stem being engaged with one of the second plurality of notches. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19 wherein the first plurality of notches further comprises a plurality of contours spaced apart along said strut, each contour having a recess including a corner for receiving the second end of the top section stem in a non-slip position; and the second plurality of notches further comprises a plurality of contours space apart along said strut, each contour having a recess and a corner for receiving the second end of the bottom section stem in a non-slip position.