BOOKSTAND FOR AN eREADER

Abstract

A bookstand for an eReader including a center support and a plurality of manipulatable supports coupled to the center support. The plurality of manipulable supports being moveable between at least a first storage position and a second open position for supporting the eReader in a reading position.

1 . A bookstand for an eReader, the bookstand comprising:
 a center support; and   a plurality of manipulatable supports coupled to the center support, the plurality of manipulable supports being moveable between at least a first storage position and a second open position for selectively supporting the eReader in a plurality of reading positions.   
     
     
         2 . The bookstand of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of manipulatable supports comprises at least three manipulatable supports. 
     
     
         3 . The bookstand of  claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of manipulatable supports comprises a flexible cable. 
     
     
         4 . The bookstand of  claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of manipulatable supports is moveable between a plurality of positions. 
     
     
         5 . The bookstand of  claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of manipulatable supports includes a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal extension between the first end and the second end,
 the one of the plurality of manipulatable supports being coupled, at a coupling location along the longitudinal extension and between the first end and the second end, to the center support, and   wherein the one of the plurality of manipulatable supports has an arm portion extending from the coupling location with the center support to the first end, and a leg portion extending from the coupling location with the center support to the second end.   
     
     
         6 . The bookstand of  claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of manipulatable supports includes a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal extension between the first end and the second end,
 the one of the plurality of manipulatable supports being coupled, at a coupling location at the first end, to the center support, and   wherein the one of the plurality of manipulatable supports has one of an arm portion and a leg portion extending from the coupling location with the center support to the first end.   
     
     
         7 . The bookstand of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of manipulatable supports includes:
 a first manipulatable support having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal extension between the first end and the second end;   a second manipulatable support having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal extension between the first end and the second end; and   a third manipulatable support having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal extension between the first end and the second end,   each of the first manipulatable support, the second manipulatable support, and the third manipulatable support coupled, at a coupling location along the longitudinal extension and between the first end and the second end, to the center support.   
     
     
         8 . The bookstand of  claim 7 , wherein each of the first manipulatable support, the second manipulatable support, and the third manipulatable support includes:
 an arm portion extending from the center support to the first end; and   a leg portion extending from the center support to the second end.   
     
     
         9 . The bookstand of  claim 1 , wherein the center support includes a collar receiving a portion of each of the plurality of manipulatable supports. 
     
     
         10 . The bookstand of  claim 1 , wherein the center support includes an external surface having a plurality of longitudinal grooves spaced around the external surface of the center support,
 each of the plurality of longitudinal grooves receiving a portion of one of the plurality of manipulatable supports.   
     
     
         11 . The bookstand of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of longitudinal grooves are equally spaced around the external surface of the center support. 
     
     
         12 . The bookstand of  claim 10 , wherein one of the plurality of longitudinal grooves comprises a cylindrical-shaped groove including an opening extending along a length of the cylindrical-shaped groove,
 the opening having a width in a direction transverse to the length of the cylindrical-shaped groove,   the width of the opening being less than a diameter of the cylindrical-shaped groove such that a portion of one of the plurality of manipulatable supports engages the cylindrical-shaped groove in a snap-fit manner.   
     
     
         13 . The bookstand of  claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of manipulatable supports includes a first end having a molded grip. 
     
     
         14 . The bookstand of  claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of manipulatable supports includes a first end having a first ball-shaped grip. 
     
     
         15 . The bookstand of  claim 14 , wherein the one of the plurality of manipulatable supports includes a second end having a second ball-shaped grip. 
     
     
         16 . The bookstand of  claim 14 , wherein the one of the plurality of manipulatable supports includes a second end having a corner-capturing grip. 
     
     
         17 . The bookstand of  claim 14 , wherein the first ball-shaped grip comprises a resilient ball-shaped grip. 
     
     
         18 . The bookstand of  claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of manipulatable supports includes a first end having a first corner-capturing grip. 
     
     
         19 . The bookstand of  claim 18 , wherein the one of the plurality of manipulatable supports includes a second corner-capturing grip. 
     
     
         20 . The bookstand of  claim 18 , wherein the first corner-capturing grip comprises a resilient corner-capturing grip. 
     
     
         21 . The bookstand of  claim 18 , wherein the first corner-capturing grip includes a pocket that engages a corner of the eReader. 
     
     
         22 . The bookstand of  claim 7 , wherein each of the first end and the second end of the first manipulatable support includes a corner-capturing grip. 
     
     
         23 . The bookstand of  claim 7 , wherein each of the first end and the second end of the first manipulatable support includes a ball-shaped grip. 
     
     
         24 . The bookstand of  claim 23 , wherein each of the first end and the second end of the second manipulatable support includes a corner-capturing grip. 
     
     
         25 . The bookstand of  claim 24 , wherein each of the first end and the second end of the third manipulatable support includes a corner-capturing grip. 
     
     
         26 . The bookstand of  claim 18 , wherein the first corner-capturing grip includes a pocket configured to receive a corner of the ereader. 
     
     
         27 . The bookstand of  claim 18 , wherein the first corner-capturing grip includes a groove configured to receive an edge of the ereader. 
     
     
         28 . The bookstand of  claim 18 , wherein the first corner-capturing grip includes a groove configured to receive an edge of the ereader and a pocket configured to receive a corner of the ereader. 
     
     
         29 . A bookstand for an eReader, the bookstand comprising:
 a center support; and   a plurality of manipulatable support means for supporting the eReader in a plurality of reading positions,   the plurality of manipulatable support means being coupled to the center support and moveable between at least a first storage position and a second open position.   
     
     
         30 . The bookstand of  claim 29 , wherein at least one of the plurality of manipulatable support means includes a first end having gripping means for gripping one of a supporting surface, a surface of the eReader, an edge of the eReader, and a corner of the eReader. 
     
     
         31 . A bookstand for an eReader, the bookstand comprising:
 a plurality of manipulatable supports coupled to each other,   the plurality of manipulatable supports being moveable between at least a first storage position and a second open position for selectively supporting the eReader in a plurality of reading positions.