work in progress p10 bookstand6

WOK IN PROGRESS - TRAVAUX EN COURS - LAVORI IN CORSO - ARBEITSVORGANG

Title page - Page de titre - Pagina di titolo - Titelseite - Página principal

Started:

Last update: January 25, 2004

Finished:

Jan 18, 2004

: "Bookstand" foldable, with optional rocking and continuously adjustable inclination, for tabletop reading

Jan 25, 2004

The idea

I already constructed several bookstands like the ones shown below. You may click them to see the catalogue of existing bookstands.

These are tabletop bookstands used to read seated at a table.
But I also wanted to build a tabletop bookstand which would have the following characteristics or objectives:
1- It could be either stable or rocking in order to adjust its inclination.
2- The inclination would be adjustable continuously, which means that any angle of inclination could be obtained.
3- It could be assembled and dissaembaled without any screws, nails nor glue.

The idea was to cut the rounded base of the supports so that it could be removed (shown in orange colour in the sketch above).
Let's call it the 'sabot' S or wooden shoe.
The problem then was how or where to store that movable piece .
I thought of cuting also the left top side of the supports so that it could accomodate the movable 'sabot' when not use to rock the bookstand. Both configuration are shown on the sktech above.

The other 2 caracteristics were obtained, not at this basic design level, but step by step as I construted the model dscribed below.
This is an interesting design methodology whereby some basics are decided early and the rest comes upon on a trial and error approach, always keeping in mind the objectives.

Catalogue - Catalogo

Execution - Component pieces

The shape of the sabot S should be such that it holds in place both under and on the resting side of the bookstand.

I wanted to exactly describe the work I did and the process I followed in arriving at a solution. It was an interesting writing exercise. Clarity with words is the essence of technology, even when dealing with an artistic project.
Technology comes from the greek "tecne-logos" where "tecne" means art and "logos" verbal discourse:
Technolgy means "verbal description of an art".

Combining art and technology may therefore just be a convenient pleonasm!

Click here to read the complete design story

The leg or support

The 'sabot' or wooden shoe

The sabot fit at the base of the leg
for rocking the bookstand.

The other 3 elements are the back rest board (top),
the horizontal plane (middle) and a round bar with screwedin knobs
whose use is shown below right

The sabot also fits on the left side of the leg
when not used for rocking the bookstand.

The round bar with the knobs fits into the split shown at left. The knobs can be screwed to tighten the bar on the legs.

A big problem remained to be solved. How to prevent the sabots to slip away from the legs.

My first solution was not aesthetically acceptable

The solution was to cut larger shapes of the sabot from a thin sheet of wood and glue 2 of them on each side of the sabot.

The sabot will not move sideaways once inserted in either position on the leg.

Execution - Assembling

First insert the legs in the dents of the horizontal plane.

Then place the screws inserted at each end of the round bar in the splits of the legs and screws on the knobs as tight as necessary to make the construction rigid.

Insert the back rest board into the space provided on the legs.

Place the sabot on the back side of the legs if you so desir...

... or place them under for rocking the bookstand.

Another round bar is provied which can be rolled under the sabot to adjust the inclination in a continuous manner.
This bar is decorated with the same knobs used for screwing the consolidation bar in the back of the legs.

Click the image right

The job now is to decorate the piece to look like old precious wood.
Patience!
Here it is!