Subject: Need Patent number

From: [email-masked] (Roger Feeley)
Date: Sat, 07 Dec 1996 16:43:21 GMT

Years ago, I saw this marvelous self-leveling dictionary stand.  About
90-100 yrs old, it had two wooden platforms (the rest was cast iron)
that supported each side of your dictionary.  As you flipped from
place to place in the dictionary, the platforms adjusted height to
relieve stress on the binding.

I love this semi useless technology and have kicked myself ever since
for not buying the thing.  If anyone out there has seen one or knows
where one is, I would love to get the patent number off of it and see
if I can reproduce it in a non-floor standing model.

Roger

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From: [email-masked]
Date: 8 Dec 1996 17:10:37 GMT

>if I can reproduce it in a non-floor standing model.

Shouldn't be too hard to design. Obviously it operates on the difference
in weight of the book. A simple lever mechanism very similar to a set of
old balance beam scales would work. The type that has the stuff on one
side and a pile of wights on the other and a needle that shows zero when
one side equals the other.

Peter

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From: [email-masked]
Date: 9 Dec 1996 21:16:11 GMT

In article <[email-masked]>,
[email-masked] (Roger Feeley) writes:

>My hope is to adapt it to a table top device instead of floor
>standing.
>
>It looks like I will have to make another trip to the library.
>Fortunately, we have an excellent one here in K.C. (Linda Hall) that
>includes a full patent repository.
>
>Th

Sounds like a neat device, I would appreciate some follow up info after
the trip to the library. Might make a nice gift for holding recipe books
in the kitchen.

Peter

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From: [email-masked] (Roger Feeley)
Date: Mon, 09 Dec 1996 03:02:00 GMT

On 8 Dec 1996 17:10:37 GMT, [email-masked] wrote:

>old balance beam scales would work. 

>Peter

For the most part, I think your'e right.

An apology for this next bit of information as I neglected to include
it in my original post.  I hate it when somebody asks me a question
and fails to give me all pertinent information.  Now I'm the bad guy.

Anyway, as I remember,  this thing would also sort of fold up so the
book was held in a closed vertical position.  Besides seeing it at an
antique store (and missing my opportunity), I noticed it in the movie
version of "The Music Man".  Robert Preston and Shirley Jones dance
around it in the Library.

Thanks,
Roger

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From: [email-masked] (Roger Feeley)
Date: Tue, 10 Dec 1996 02:31:26 GMT

Re: self-leveling dictionary stand
>the trip to the library. Might make a nice gift for holding recipe books

That's a good thought.  I had really only considered it for it's
original purpose.  If I actually find it.  I understand that the
patent indexes are pretty tough to wade through.

A very nice gentleman emailed me with a URL for the U.S. Patent Office
where I can make online searches.  I'm not sure they go back far
enough.

Roger