Multi-positionable document support stand and interlocking modular document holder

A document support stand for removably mounting a document holder thereon, which comprises:

• a main body, the main body including a viewing side, and first and second support means for supporting the viewing side in at least two viewing dispositions which are transverse to each other;
• and
• means for removably mounting a document holder on the body, the document holder mounting means being situated on the body at the viewing side thereof to allow the document holder to be mounted on the viewing side, the stand being selectively positionable to rest on one of the first support means, thereby supporting a document holder mounted thereon in a first viewing disposition, and the second support means, thereby supporting a document holder mounted thereon in a second viewing disposition which is transverse to the first viewing disposition, the viewing side residing in an x-y coordinate plane which is perpendicular to a z-axis of rotation, the document support stand being adapted to be rotated about the z-axis of rotation so that the viewing side thereof is correspondingly turned within the x-y coordinate plane and adjusted in position within the x-y coordinate plane;
• wherein the first support means includes a substantially planar support side of the main body, the support side being joined to the viewing side;
• wherein each of the planar support side and viewing side of the main body is hollow and defines an interior space, the interior space of the support side being in communication with the interior space of the viewing side;
• and wherein the document support stand further includes a moveable ballast, the ballast at least partially filling the interior spaces of the support side and viewing side and being adapted to move from the interior space of one side to the interior space of the other side when the stand is repositioned from one of the first and second viewing dispositions to the other of the first and second viewing dispositions.

In combination:

• a document holder, and a document support stand for removably mounting the document holder thereon;
• the document support stand including a main body, the main body including a viewing side, a first support side and a second support side, the viewing side having at least first and second edges disposed transversely to each other, the first support side being joined to the viewing side at the first edge thereof, the second support side being joined to the viewing side at the second edge thereof, each of the viewing side and the first and second support sides being substantially planar, the first and second support sides extending angularly from the viewing side on the same side of the plane in which the viewing side resides, the first support side and the viewing side defining therebetween an acute first angle at the first edge, the second support side and the viewing side defining therebetween an acute second angle at the second edge;
• and means for removably mounting the document holder, the document holder mounting means being situated on the body at the viewing side thereof to allow the document holder to be mounted on the viewing side, the stand being selectively positionable to rest on one of the first support side, thereby supporting a document holder mounted thereon in a first viewing position, and the second support side, thereby supporting a document holder mounted thereon in a second viewing position which is transverse to the first viewing position, the viewing side residing in an x-y coordinate plane which is perpendicular to a z-axis of rotation, the document support stand being adapted to be rotated about the z-axis of rotation so that the viewing side thereof is correspondingly turned within the x-y coordinate plane and adjusted in position within the x-y coordinate plane;
• the document holder including means for mounting documents, means for supporting the document mounting means, the document mounting means being mounted thereon, and means mounted on the document mounting support means for engageably cooperating with the document holder mounting means of the document support stand
• wherein the document support stand further comprises means for selectively latching the document holder to the viewing side of the document support stand.

In combination:

• a document holder, and a document support stand for removably mounting the document holder thereon;
• the document support stand including a planar, plate-like body having a front viewing side and a rear side opposite the front side, means for rotatably supporting the plate-like body and for positioning the body in a selectable angular disposition about a z-axis of rotation, the body being mounted on the body supporting means on the rear side thereof, and means for removably mounting the document holder, the document holder mounting means being situated on the body at the viewing side thereof and substantially at a central portion thereof to allow the document holder to be mounted on the viewing side and to support the document holder at a substantially central portion of the document holder, the document holder mounting means being selectively engageable with the document holder, wherein the body may be rotated on the supporting means to position the viewing side and a document holder mounted thereon in one of a number of selectable viewing positions, the viewing side residing in an x-y coordinate plane which is perpendicular to a z-axis of rotation, the plate-like body being adapted to be rotated about the z-axis of rotation so that the viewing side thereof is correspondingly turned within the x-y coordinate plane and adjusted in position within the x-y coordinate plane;
• the document holder including means for mounting documents, means for supporting the document mounting means, the document mounting means being mounted thereon, and means mounted on the document mounting support means for engageably cooperating with the document holder mounting means of the document support stand;
• wherein the document support stand further comprises means for selectively latching the document holder to the viewing side of the document support stand.

In combination:

• a document holder, and a document support stand for removably mounting the document holder thereon;
• the document support stand including a main body, the main body including a viewing side, a first support side and a second support side, the viewing side having at least first and second edges disposed transversely to each other, the first support side being joined to the viewing side at the first edge thereof, the second support side being joined to the viewing side at the second edge thereof, each of the viewing side and the first and second support sides being substantially planar, the first and second support sides extending angularly from the viewing side on the same side of the plane in which the viewing side resides, the first support side and the viewing side defining therebetween an acute first angle at the first edge, the second support side and the viewing side defining therebetween an acute second angle at the second edge;
• and means for removably mounting the document holder, the document holder mounting means being situated on the body at the viewing side thereof to allow the document holder to be mounted on the viewing side, the stand being selectively positionable to rest on one of the first support side, thereby supporting a document holder mounted thereon in a first viewing position, and the second support side, thereby supporting a document holder mounted thereon in a second viewing position which is transverse to the first viewing position, the viewing side residing in an x-y coordinate plane which is perpendicular to a z-axis of rotation, the document support stand being adapted to be rotated about the z-axis of rotation so that the viewing side thereof is correspondingly turned within the x-y coordinate plane and adjusted in position within the x-y coordinate plane;
• the document holder including means for mounting documents, means for supporting the document mounting means, and cooperating first and second means for removably mounting the document mounting means to the supporting means, the first means being mounted on the supporting means, the second means being mounted on the document mounting means, the second means being cooperatingly engageable with the document holder mounting means of the document support stand to allow the document mounting means to be removed from the supporting means of the document holder and mounted on the viewing side of the document support stand;
• wherein the means for removably mounting the document holder includes means defining an elongated slot situated on the viewing side of the body, the slot defining means forming the slot with a substantially "T" shape in cross-section, and with a narrowed portion and a widened portion communicating with the narrowed portion;
• and wherein said second means for removably mounting the document mounting means to the supporting means includes a rail member having a widened portion and a narrowed portion which respectively cooperate with the widened portion and narrowed portion of the slot defined by the slot defining means, the rail member being slidably received by the slot of the slot defining means, the rail member further including a back plate mounted on the narrowed portion of the rail member and spaced apart from the widened portion, the back plate extending beyond the width of the document mounting means at least on one side thereof and defining a handle to facilitate removal of the rail member and document mounting means from the supporting means of the document holder and for mounting the rail member and document mounting means on the document support stand.

In combination:

• a document holder, and a document support stand for removably mounting the document holder thereon;
• the document support stand including a planar, plate-like body having a front viewing side and a rear side opposite the front side, means for rotatably supporting the plate-like body and for positioning the body in a selectable angular disposition about a z-axis of rotation, the body being mounted on the body supporting means on the rear side thereof, and means for removably mounting the document holder, the document holder mounting means being situated on the body at the viewing side thereof and substantially at a central portion thereof to allow the document holder to be mounted on the viewing side and to support the document holder at a substantially central portion of the document holder, the document holder mounting means being selectively engageable with the document holder, wherein the body may be rotated on the supporting means to position the viewing side and a document holder mounted thereon in one of a number of selectable viewing positions, the viewing side residing in an x-y coordinate plane which is perpendicular to a z-axis of rotation, the plate-like body being adapted to be rotated about the z-axis of rotation so that the viewing side thereof is correspondingly turned within the x-y coordinate plane and adjusted in position within the x-y coordinate plane;
• the document holder including means for mounting documents, means for supporting the document mounting means, and cooperating first and second means for removably mounting the document mounting means to the supporting means, the first means being mounted on the supporting means, the second means being mounted on the document mounting means, the second means being cooperatingly engageable with the document holder mounting means of the document support stand to allow the document mounting means to be removed from the supporting means of the document holder and mounted on the viewing side of the document support stand;
• wherein the means for removably mounting the document holder includes means defining an elongated slot situated on the viewing side of the body, the slot defining means forming the slot with a substantially "T" shape in cross-section, and with a narrowed portion and a widened portion communicating with the narrowed portion;
• and wherein said second means for removably mounting the document mounting means to the supporting means includes a rail member having a widened portion and a narrowed portion which respectively cooperate with the widened portion and narrowed portion of the slot defined by the slot defining means, the rail member being slidably received by the slot of the slot defining means, the rail member further including a back plate mounted on the narrowed portion of the rail member and spaced apart from the widened portion, the back plate extending beyond the width of the document mounting means at least on one side thereof and defining a handle to facilitate removal of the rail member and document mounting means from the supporting means of the document holder and for mounting the rail member and document mounting means on the document support stand.

An adapter for coupling a document holder to a document support stand, the adapter comprising:

• first means for removably mounting a document holder to the adapter;
• second means for removably mounting the adapter to the document support stand;
• and
• means for supporting the first and second mounting means;
• wherein the means for supporting the first and second mounting means includes a flat plate-like body having front and rear sides, the first means being mounted on the front side thereof, and the second means being mounted on the rear side thereof;
• and wherein one of the first and second means includes means defining an elongated slot, the slot defining means forming the slot with a substantially "T" shape in cross section, and with a narrowed portion and a widened portion communicating with the narrowed portion;
• and wherein the other of the first and second means includes a rail member having a widened portion and a narrowed portion.

An adapter for coupling a document holder to a document support stand, the adapter comprising:

• first means for removably mounting a document holder to the adapter;
• second means for removably mounting the adapter to the document support stand;
• and
• means for supporting the first and second mounting means;
• wherein the means for supporting the first and second mounting means including a flat plate-like body having front and rear sides, the first means being mounted on the front side thereof, and the second means being mounted on the rear side thereof;
• and wherein each of the first and second means includes means defining an elongated slot, the slot defining means forming the slot with a substantially "T" shape in cross-section, and with a narrowed portion and a widened portion communicating with the narrowed portion.

An adapter for coupling a document holder to a document support stand, the adapter comprising:

• first means for removably mounting a document holder to the adapter;
• second means for removably mounting the adapter to the document support stand;
• and
• means for supporting the first and second mounting means;
• wherein the means for supporting the first and second mounting means includes a flat plate-like body having front and rear sides, the first means being mounted on the front side thereof, and the second means being mounted on the rear side thereof;
• and wherein each of the first and second means includes a rail member having a widened portion and a narrowed portion.

An adapter for coupling a document holder to a document support stand, the adapter comprising:

• first means for removably mounting a document holder to the adapter;
• second means for removably mounting the adapter to the document support stand;
• and
• means for supporting the first and second mounting means;
• wherein the means for supporting the first and second mounting means includes a wedge-shaped body which is triangular in cross-section, the body including a viewing side on which the first means is situated, and a mounting side on which the second means is situated.

A document support stand for removably mounting at least one document holder thereon, which comprises:

• a main body, the main body including a viewing side;
• and
• first means for mounting a document holder in a first disposition on the viewing side of the body, and second means for mounting a document holder in a second disposition on the viewing side of the body, the first disposition effected by the first mounting means being different from the second disposition effected by the second mounting means, the first and second mounting means being situated on the viewing side of the body, wherein a document holder is selectively engageable with the first and second mounting means and mountable on the viewing side of the document support stand in the first and second different dispositions;
• wherein the first mounting means includes first means defining a first elongated slot, and the second mounting means includes second means defining a second elongated slot, the first and second slot defining means being situated on the viewing side of the body;
• wherein the viewing side has formed therein a major enlargement, the major enlargement being in communication with the first and second slots, the major enlargement defining an access opening for providing access to the first and second elongated slots for mounting a document holder to the stand.

A document support stand for removably mounting at least one document holder thereon, which comprises:

• a main body, the main body including a viewing side;
• and
• first means for mounting a document holder in a first disposition on the viewing side of the body, and second means for mounting a document holder in a second disposition on the viewing side of the body, the first disposition effected by the first mounting means being different from the second disposition effected by the second mounting means, the first and second mounting means being situated on the viewing side of the body, wherein a document holder is selectively engageable with the first and second mounting means and mountable on the viewing side of the document support stand in the first and second different dispositions;
• wherein the first mounting means includes first means defining a first elongated slot, and the second mounting means includes second means defining a second elongated slot, the first and second slot defining means being situated on the viewing side of the body;
• the document support stand further comprising a spacer member, the spacer member being adapted to be received by at least one of the first and second elongated slots to prevent the document holder from moving on the viewing side of the stand when the document holder is mounted thereon.

In combination:

• a document holder, and a document support stand for removably mounting the document holder thereon;
• the document support stand including a main body, the main body including a viewing side, a first support side and a second support side, the viewing side having at least first and second edges disposed transversely to each other, the first support side being joined to the viewing side at the first edge thereof, the second support side being joined to the viewing side at the second edge thereof, each of the viewing side and the first and second support sides being substantially planar, the first and second support sides extending angularly from the viewing side on the same side of the plane in which the viewing side resides, the first support side and the viewing side defining therebetween an acute first angle at the first edge, the second support side and the viewing side defining therebetween an acute second angle at the second edge;
• and means for removably mounting the document holder, the document holder mounting means being situated on the body at the viewing side thereof to allow the document holder to be mounted on the viewing side, the stand being selectively positionable to rest on one of the first support side, thereby supporting a document holder mounted thereon in a first viewing position, and the second support side, thereby supporting a document holder mounted thereon in a second viewing position which is transverse to the first viewing position, the viewing side residing in an x-y coordinate plane which is perpendicular to a z-axis of rotation, the document support stand being adapted to be rotated about the z-axis of rotation so that the viewing side thereof is correspondingly turned within the x-y coordinate plane and adjusted in position within the x-y coordinate plane;
• the document holder including means for mounting documents, means for supporting the document mounting means, the document mounting means being mounted thereon, and means mounted on the document mounting support means for engageably cooperating with the document holder mounting means of the document support stand;
• the combination further comprising a rotatable turntable support, the rotatable turntable support including first means for removably mounting a document holder to the rotatable turntable support, and second means for removably mounting the rotatable turntable support to the document support stand.

In combination:

• a document holder, and a document support stand for removably mounting the document holder thereon;
• the document support stand including a planar, plate-like body having a front viewing side and a rear side opposite the front side, means for rotatably supporting the plate-like body and for positioning the body in a selectable angular disposition about a z-axis of rotation, the body being mounted on the body supporting means on the rear side thereof, and means for removably mounting the document holder, the document holder mounting means being situated on the body at the viewing side thereof and substantially at a central portion thereof to allow the document holder to be mounted on the viewing side and to support the document holder at a substantially central portion of the document holder, the document holder mounting means being selectively engageable with the document holder, wherein the body may be rotated on the supporting means to position the viewing side and a document holder mounted thereon in one of a number of selectable viewing positions, the viewing side residing in an x-y coordinate plane which is perpendicular to a z-axis of rotation, the plate-like body being adapted to be rotated about the z-axis of rotation so that the viewing side thereof is correspondingly turned within the x-y coordinate plane and adjusted in position within the x-y coordinate plane;
• the document holder including means for mounting documents, means for supporting the document mounting means, the document mounting means being mounted thereon, and means mounted on the document mounting support means for engageably cooperating with the document holder mounting means of the document support stand;
• the combination further comprising a rotatable turntable support, the rotatable turntable support including first means for removably mounting a document holder to the rotatable turntable support, and second means for removably mounting the rotatable turntable support to the document support stand.

In combination:

• a document holder, and a document support stand for removably mounting the document holder thereon;
• the document support stand including a main body, the main body including a viewing side, a first support side and a second support side, the viewing side having at least first and second edges disposed transversely to each other, the first support side being joined to the viewing side at the first edge thereof, the second support side being joined to the viewing side at the second edge thereof, each of the viewing side and the first and second support sides being substantially planar, the first and second support sides extending angularly from the viewing side on the same side of the plane in which the viewing side resides, the first support side and the viewing side defining therebetween an acute first angle at the first edge, the second support side and the viewing side defining therebetween an acute second angle at the second edge;
• and means for removably mounting the document holder, the document holder mounting means being situated on the body at the viewing side thereof to allow the document holder to be mounted on the viewing side, the stand being selectively positionable to rest on one of the first support side, thereby supporting a document holder mounted thereon in a first viewing position, and the second support side, thereby supporting a document holder mounted thereon in a second viewing position which is transverse to the first viewing position, the viewing side residing in an x-y coordinate plane which is perpendicular to a z-axis of rotation, the document support stand being adapted to be rotated about the z-axis of rotation so that the viewing side thereof is correspondingly turned within the x-y coordinate plane and adjusted in position within the x-y coordinate plane;
• the document holder including means for mounting documents, means for supporting the document mounting means, the document mounting means being mounted thereon, and means mounted on the document mounting support means for engageably cooperating with the document holder mounting means of the document support stand;
• wherein the document holder mounting means of the document support stand includes a rail member mounted on the viewing side thereof, the rail member having a widened portion and a narrowed portion joined to the widened portion;
• and wherein the document holder includes a cover, and wherein a slot is formed in the cover, the slot having a T-shape in cross-section and being defined with a narrowed portion and a widened portion which respectively cooperate with the narrowed portion and widened portion of the rail member so that the rail member may be slidably received by the slot of the document holder to mount the document holder on the document support stand.

In combination:

• a document holder, and a document support stand for removably mounting the document holder thereon;
• the document support stand including a main body, the main body including a viewing side, a first support side and a second support side, the viewing side having at least first and second edges disposed transversely to each other, the first support side being joined to the viewing side at the first edge thereof, the second support side being joined to the viewing side at the second edge thereof, each of the viewing side and the first and second support sides being substantially planar, the first and second support sides extending angularly from the viewing side on the same side of the plane in which the viewing side resides, the first support side and the viewing side defining therebetween an acute first angle at the first edge, the second support side and the viewing side defining therebetween an acute second angle at the second edge;
• and means for removably mounting the document holder, the document holder mounting means being situated on the body at the viewing side thereof to allow the document holder to be mounted on the viewing side, the stand being selectively positionable to rest on one of the first support side, thereby supporting a document holder mounted thereon in a first viewing position, and the second support side, thereby supporting a document holder mounted thereon in a second viewing position which is transverse to the first viewing position, the viewing side residing in an x-y coordinate plane which is perpendicular to a z-axis of rotation, the document support stand being adapted to be rotated about the z-axis of rotation so that the viewing side thereof is correspondingly turned within the x-y coordinate plane and adjusted in position within the x-y coordinate plane;
• the document holder including means for mounting documents, means for supporting the document mounting means, the document mounting means being mounted thereon, and means mounted on the document mounting support means for engageably cooperating with the document holder mounting means of the document support stand;
• wherein one of the document holder and document support stand further includes means for selectively locking the document holder to the document support stand, the locking means including a lock assembly mounted on said one of the document holder and the document support stand and having a selectively extendible pin, the pin being adapted to selectively engage an opening formed in the other of the document holder and the document support stand to prevent the document holder from being removed from the stand when mounted thereon.

In combination:

• a document holder, and a document support stand for removably mounting the document holder thereon;
• the document support stand including a planar, plate-like body having a front viewing side and a rear side opposite the front side, means for rotatably supporting the plate-like body and for positioning the body in a selectable angular disposition about a z-axis of rotation, the body being mounted on the body supporting means on the rear side thereof, and means for removably mounting the document holder, the document holder mounting means being situated on the body at the viewing side thereof and substantially at a central portion thereof to allow the document holder to be mounted on the viewing side and to support the document holder at a substantially central portion of the document holder, the document holder mounting means being selectively engageable with the document holder, wherein the body may be rotated on the supporting means to position the viewing side and a document holder mounted thereon in one of a number of selectable viewing positions, the viewing side residing in an x-y coordinate plane which is perpendicular to a z-axis of rotation, the plate-like body being adapted to be rotated about the z-axis of rotation so that the viewing side thereof is correspondingly turned within the x-y coordinate plane and adjusted in position within the x-y coordinate plane;
• the document holder including means for mounting documents, means for supporting the document mounting means, the document mounting means being mounted thereon, and means mounted on the document mounting support means for engageably cooperating with the document holder mounting means of the document support stand;
• wherein one of the document holder and document support stand further includes means for selectively locking the document holder to the document support stand, the locking means including a lock assembly mounted on said one of the document holder and the document support stand and having a selectively extendible pin, the pin being adapted to selectively engage an opening formed in the other of the document holder and the document support stand to prevent the document holder from being removed from the stand when mounted thereon.

In combination:

• at least one document holder, and a document support stand for removably mounting the document holder thereon;
• the document support stand including a main body, the main body including a viewing side, and first means for mounting the document holder in a first disposition on the viewing side of the body, and second means for mounting the document holder in a second disposition on the viewing side of the body, the first disposition effected by the first mounting means being different from the second disposition effected by the second mounting means, the first and second mounting means being situated on the viewing side of the body, wherein the document holder is selectively engageable with the first and second mounting means and mountable on the viewing side of the document support stand in the first and second different dispositions;
• the document holder including means for mounting documents, means for supporting the document mounting means, the document mounting means being mounted thereon, and means mounted on the document mounting support means for engageably cooperating with the document holder mounting means of the document support stand;
• wherein one of the document holder and document support stand further includes means for selectively locking the document holder to the document support stand, the locking means including a lock assembly mounted on said one of the document holder and the document support stand and having a selectively extendible pin, the pin being adapted to selectively engage an opening formed in the other of the document holder and the document support stand to prevent the document holder from being removed from the stand when mounted thereon.

In combination:

• a document holder, and a document support stand for removably mounting the document holder thereon;
• the document support stand including a main body, the main body having a viewing side, and means for removably mounting the document holder, the document holder mounting means including means defining an elongated slot situated on the viewing side of the body, the slot defining means forming the slot with a substantially "T" shape in cross-section, and with a narrowed portion and a widened portion communicating with the narrowed portion;
• the document holder including means for mounting documents, means supporting the document mounting means, the document mounting means being mounted thereon, and means mounted on the document mounting support means for engageably cooperating with the document holder mounting means of the document support stand;
• wherein said means mounted on the document mounting support means of the document holder for engageably cooperating with the document holder mounting means of the document support stand includes a rail member having a widened portion and a narrowed portion which respectively cooperate with the widened and narrowed portion of the slot defined by the slot defining means, the rail member being slidably received by the slot of the slot defining means;
• wherein the widened portion of the rail member has a width and length which are substantially equal to each other so as to allow the rail member to be received by the slot when the rail member is in at least two different dispositions with respect to the slot.

In combination:

• a document holder, a document support stand for removably mounting the document holder thereon, and means for selectively locking the document holder to the stand;
• the document support stand including a main body, the main body having a viewing side, and means for mounting a document holder on the viewing side of the body, the document holder mounting means including means defining an elongated slot situated on the viewing side of the body for mounting the document holder on the viewing side;
• the document holder including a looseleaf ring binder mechanism having a plurality of rings adapted to open and close, and having a reciprocatingly slidable actuator mounted thereon to effect the opening and closing of the rings, means for supporting the binder mechanism, the binder mechanism being mounted on the supporting means, and means mounted on the supporting means for engageably cooperating with the document holder mounting means of the document support stand to allow the document holder to be mounted on the document support stand;
• said means for selectively locking the document holder to the stand including means engageable with the document holder mounting means of the document support stand for mounting the locking means on the document support stand, a selectively extendible pin which is adapted to engage one of a plurality of openings formed in the document support stand, the locking means being adapted to be mounted on the document support stand and positioned thereon to abut against the reciprocatingly slidable actuator of the document holder thereby preventing the rings of the holder from opening.