REDUCED SIZE SHEET RACK

Abstract

 The lectern is comprised of a part which has a laminar structure with at least one folding line (8) susceptible of integrating printed publicity. The lectern has a backing configuration for at least one inferior part of one or more superimposed sheets (2), in immediate contact with a lower edge (3) of said sheets; support and retention means for said lower edge (3); and means for sustaining said backing configuration in an inclined backward position so that said sheets (2) held by the lower edge (3) and resting in said backing configuration adopt a curved shape to ensure their stability in an erected position. Preferably, said backing configuration comprises a front panel (1) which in an operative position forms a concave and curved surface facing the user. Alternatively, said piece can also form, once folded and assembled, a receptacle for separate sheets.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention concerns a lectern of reduced dimensions in relation to the size of the sheet or sheets to be supported, formed from one only piece of a sheet material of a predetermined shape, properly folded and erected and also apt to integrate printed advertising.

[0002] The simplified lectern of the present invention has very favourable characteristics as regards its very simple construction, easy handling, space saving both for the manufacturer and the distributor as well as for the end user, and its low manufacturing and transportation cost. The lectern offers as a substantial benefit its ability to serve as a carrier for advertising since it has amply-dimensioned surfaces allowing to impress or print on them advertising or informative motifs such as a calendar. Another relevant characteristic of the lectern of the present invention lies in the fact that in a majority of the exemplary embodiments said lectern is foldable thus resulting in a flat arrangement having a weight and dimensions that make it very suitable to be sent in an envelope by mail, for example.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Several lectern arrangements for supporting sheets have been known for many years. Lecterns have always been very popular since they are very useful in all kinds of offices as an auxiliary element to hold written sheets in an erect position in order to comfortably facilitate viewing them when their contents have to be typed or keyed in into a computer, this working system having become implanted up to the point of becoming a necessity; lecterns also having classically been very widely used by musicians to hold a score in a comfortable position before their eyes.

[0004] Some known examples of lectern arrangements can be mentioned such as those of the Spanish utility models nos. 119,160, 1033945 U, 1026908 U and 1032453 U or the European patent 0732883 A1. All of these patents feature relatively complex approaches with embodiments whose manufacture, handling and transportation are rather cost intensive.

[0005] Besides presenting the above-mentioned drawbacks the utility models nos. 119,160 and 1026908 are furthermore characterized by the fact that the surface that can be effectively used to display eventual advertising or informative motifs impressed on them is of reduced dimensions.

[0006] Model no. 1032453 U is the only one among those mentioned above that is somehow foldable, although its configuration is somewhat complicated when having to be handled by an end user for the first time, and it turns out to be somewhat cumbersome once erected.

[0007] All of the above mentioned lectern models have a flat surface provided to serve as a backrest for the sheet or sheets to be held in an erect position. Because of this, the dimensions of said backrest have to be at least as big as those of the sheets, those lecterns hence turning out to be very cumbersome even if they are foldable.

[0008] The Spanish utility model 1038851 solves this problem by providing a tabletop lectern comprising a one-piece body with a circular base and a dished outer surface. Said body is upperly provided with at least one upperly open transversal slot that is slightly slanted backwards and has an arcuate cross-section, for the insertion of one or more paper sheets. The arcuate shape of said slot, although only spanning a portion near the bottom edge of the sheet or sheets, forces the paper to adopt a buckled configuration giving it enough stability to keep it in an erect position. Nevertheless, said tabletop lectern is not foldable, does not offer clear surfaces of big dimensions apt to display graphic or advertising information, and besides turns out to be relatively heavy since it incorporates a ballast for stabilization purposes or a magnet besides functioning as a clip holder. Said tabletop lectern is therefore not adequate to be used as an advertising carrier or to be sent in an envelope by mail, for example.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention obviates the drawbacks presented by the above-mentioned prior art devices by providing a lectern of reduced dimensions in relation to the size of the sheet or sheets to be supported, said lectern being besides of light weight, foldable in the majority of its alternative arrangements, very easy to use such that it does not substantially require any erection and operating instructions, and of very low-priced manufacture and commercialization since its cost can be in the most simplified alternative arrangement similar to that of a classical paper or plastic tabletop calendar (it can be produced by simple punching from one only paper or plastic sheet) , said lectern besides offering amply-dimensioned surfaces that are best suited for displaying advertising or information thus inviting a use of materials suited for high-quality printing, the alternative arrangements being foldable and reversible in their majority adopting a flat configuration having a weight and dimensions that make them very suitable to be put in an envelope and sent by mail, for example.

[0010] These benefits are obtained by means of a lectern of reduced dimensions as per the present invention, said lectern being formed from a piece of sheet material with at least one folding line, said piece being properly folded and/or erected and being apt to integrate printed advertising; characterized in that it comprises:

a) a backrest arrangement spanning at least a portion of one or more superimposed sheets, said portion being adjacent to a bottom edge of said sheet or sheets;

b) means to support and retain said bottom edge of said sheet or sheets; and

C) means to prop said backrest arrangement in a slightly backwards inclined position;

in such a way that said sheet or sheets held at their bottom edge and leaning against said backrest arrangement adopt a buckled shape sufficiently assuring their stability in an erect position.

[0011] The lectern as per the present invention is besides characterized in that in an alternative embodiment and when being properly folded and erected said only one piece can form a receptacle for loose sheets, writing utensils or the like, said receptacle forming said propping means, said backrest arrangement and said means to support and retain the bottom edge of the sheet or sheets deriving from said receptacle.

[0012] In a preferred exemplary embodiment said backrest arrangement consists in a front panel which when in the operative position forms a buckled, curvi-concave surface facing the observer/end user. In preferred alternative embodiments said buckled shape results from a folding of the piece along at least one curvilinear folding line, although it is also obtained by other methods in other alternative embodiments to be described in detail later on.

[0013] In an alternative exemplary embodiment the lectern of the present invention comprises a front flat surface and a back flat surface with a folding between them formed by a folding line and forming a profile in the shape of an inverted "V", said back sheet having edges which in the erected condition project over said front flat surface with their two lateral upper ends thus determining said backrest arrangement against which the sheet or sheets come to lean thus adopting a buckled shape, said edges having each been obtained by means of a slit provided along an extension of said folding line, this latter being rectilinear and situated in a central position.

[0014] Several approaches are also provided for implementing said means to support and retain said bottom edge of the sheet or sheets and for said means to prop the backrest arrangement as will be best understood when reading the following description explaining them in detail.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The invention will be now described in detail referring to preferred exemplary embodiments and to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figs. 1 through 1c show an exemplary embodiment of the lectern of the invention wherein the backrest arrangement is formed by a buckled surface;

Figs 2 through 2c show another exemplary embodiment of the lectern of the invention wherein the backrest arrangement is formed by a buckled surface;

Figs. 3 through 3c show an exemplary embodiment of the lectern of the invention wherein the backrest arrangement is formed by edges projecting over a front flat surface;

Figs. 4 and 4a show an exemplary embodiment of the lectern of the invention wherein the backrest arrangement is formed by a buckled surface, said lectern besides incorporating a box arrangement apt to receive stationery;

Figs. 5 through 5c show another exemplary embodiment of the lectern of the invention wherein the backrest arrangement is formed by a buckled surface;

Fig. 6 shows in enlarged detail means to join the panels of the lectern of Figs. 5 through 5c;

Figs. 7 through 7d show another exemplary embodiment of the lectern of the invention wherein said lectern does besides function when in the folded condition as the covers for a pad of removable sheets;

Figs. 8 and 8a show another exemplary embodiment of the lectern of the invention wherein said lectern does besides function when in the folded condition as a cover of a box provided to receive loose sheets;

Figs. 9 through 9b show another exemplary embodiment of the lectern of the invention wherein the backrest arrangement is formed by a buckled surface;

Figs. 10 through 10c show another exemplary embodiment of the lectern of the invention wherein the backrest arrangement is formed by a buckled surface deriving from a box provided to receive loose sheets;

Figs. 11 through 11c show another exemplary embodiment of the lectern of the invention wherein the backrest arrangement is formed by a slot provided in a box provided to receive loose sheets;

Figs. 12 through 12c show another exemplary embodiment of the lectern of the invention wherein the backrest arrangement is formed by a supporting edge of a back wall of a box provided to receive loose sheets, said edge having edge ends that project over a mid region, and

Figs. 13 and 13a show an associated marker accessory to mark the lines on the sheet or sheets supported by the lectern of the invention.

[0016] It is to be pointed out that although in the different exemplary embodiments described below the different approaches provided to perform each function have been grouped in a given way, other groupings would be equally possible.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0017] As has been said before, all of the exemplary embodiments of the lecterns of the invention have the following characteristics in common: they are of reduced dimensions in relation to the sheets 2 to be supported; they are formed from one only piece of sheet material 7, with at least one folding line 5a, 8, 8a; and they are apt to integrate printed advertising; comprising: a backrest arrangement spanning at least a portion of one or more superimposed sheets 2, said portion being adjacent to a bottom edge 3 of said sheet or sheets 2; means to support and retain said bottom edge 3 of said sheet or sheets 2; and means to prop said backrest arrangement in a slightly backwards inclined position, in such a way that said sheet or sheets 2 being held at their bottom edge 3 and leaning against said backrest arrangement adopt a buckled shape sufficiently assuring their stability in an erect position.

[0018] The different exemplary embodiments illustrated are distinguished by the different approaches used to provide the above-mentioned essential characteristics. Thus for example in some preferred exemplary embodiments said backrest arrangement consists in a front panel 1 which when in an operative position forms a curvi-concave buckled surface facing the observer/end user.

[0019] In Figs. 1-1c, 2-2c, 4-4a, said means to prop said backrest arrangement in an inclined position comprise a back panel 6 forming an extension by way of a lap of said front panel 1, folded along a curvilinear folding line 8 thus forming a profile in the shape of an inverted "V", said curvilinear folding line 8 forcing the front panel 1 to adopt said buckled surface shape. In the exemplary embodiment of Figs. 2-2c said piece of sheet material 7 is made of a semirigid plastics material which after having been folded along said curvilinear folding line 8 forms said inverted "V" profile of said front and back panels 1, 6 and said buckled surface shape of said front panel 1 in a permanently stable manner.

[0020] In Figs. 5-5c, 7-7d and 8-8a said means to prop said backrest arrangement in an inclined position comprise a back lap 13 forming an upper extension of said front panel 1, folded along a rectilinear folding line 22 and adhered to the back side of said front panel 1 by means of at least one spot of adhesive 26, said back lap 13 extending to form a back propping panel 27 folded along a curvilinear folding line 28 thus forcing the front panel 1 when sticking to said back propping panel to adopt said buckled surface shape. In the example illustrated in Figs. 7-7d said back propping panel 27 extends through a spine panel 33 followed by a base panel 34 which are respectively apt to be folded along rectilinear folding lines 35, 36 whereas the front panel 1 extends to form a strip 37 ending in a pull 37a, said strip 37 being inserted into a slot 36a adjacent to said folding line 36, a pad 38 of removable sheets being adhered onto said base panel 34 in such a way that the assembly is apt to adopt a first folded position wherein the different panels 1, 13, 27, 33, 34 are arranged as covers for said pad 38, pull 37a projecting in said position through slot 36a, and a second erected position obtained by pulling pull 37a, the front panel 1 being in said position propped in an inclined position and thus adopting said buckled surface shape behind the pad 38 acting as a counterweight. In its turn, in the example shown in Figs. 8 and 8a said backrest arrangement derives from a back wall 41 of a box provided to receive loose sheets and to be described later on, in such a way that said backrest arrangement can adopt a position wherein it lies on said box, or an erected position wherein it is held in an erect, slightly inclined position thereby forming said buckled surface and being retained at its lower edge by means of a retainer element 18c formed on the top wall 18 of the box.

[0021] Finally in Figs. 9-9b said means to prop said backrest arrangement in an inclined position comprise a joining strip 29 deriving from the bottom edge of said front panel 1, folded along a rectilinear folding line 29a, and adhered to the back side of said front panel 1 by means of at least one spot of adhesive 30, said joining strip 29 extending to form a propping back panel 31 apt to be revolved around a rectilinear folding line 29b, said propping back panel 31 having edges starting at both ends of said rectilinear folding line 29b and configuring end points 31a, in such a way that said propping back panel 31 is apt to adopt a stable folded position wherein it lies on said front panel 1 thereby forming a flat assembly, and a stable erected position wherein said end points 31a are engaged in lateral notches 32 of the front panel 1 thereby forcing this latter to adopt said buckled surface shape and at the same time maintaining the propping back panel 31 in its condition as a means to prop said buckled surface arrangement.

[0022] Another alternative approach to provide a backrest arrangement able to force the sheet or sheets 2 to adopt a buckled shape is shown in Figs. 3-3c wherein said lectern comprises a front flat surface 20 and a back flat surface 21 mutually folded along a folding line 8a thereby forming a profile in the shape of an inverted "V", said back sheet having edges 21a which in the erected position project over said front flat surface 20 at their upper lateral ends thus determining said backrest arrangement providing a leaning support for the sheet or sheets 2 which thus lean against it thus adopting a buckled shape, said edges 21a being each obtained by means of a respective slit 21b provided as an extension of said folding line 8a, this latter being rectilinear and situated in a central position. Figs. 12-12c show a similar approach implemented through the back wall 40 of a box provided to receive loose sheets and deriving from the base side member 17 of this latter, comprising joining arrangements 40a for its attachment to the lateral side members 19a, 19b, said back wall 40 being flat and configuring at its top free edge end points 40b situated at a higher level as compared with that of a central portion 40c and joining this latter through a curvi-concave length thus forming said front panel 1, whereas from the top side member 18 derives through punching at least one lap 18b forming in cooperation with said top side member 18 said supporting and retaining means.

[0023] An exemplary embodiment to provide said means to support and retain said bottom edge 3 of the sheet or sheets 2, illustrated in Figs. 1, 5, 7, 8 and 9, comprises at least one toe 4 deriving from a region near the bottom edge of said front panel 1 or said front flat surface 20 in its operative position, said toe having been obtained by punching by means of an upper curvilinear slit 4a and a curvilinear lower folding line 4b.

[0024] Another example for said means to support and retain said bottom edge 3 is obtained, as shown in Figs. 2-2c, by means of a portion 5 of said front panel 1 adjacent to the bottom edge of this latter and folded upwards along a curvilinear folding line 5a cooperating in the adoption of said buckled surface shape on the part of the front panel 1. This approach is especially adequate when using the piece of sheet material 7 made of semirigid plastics material as described above.

[0025] When said semirigid material is not used for the piece 7, and when the lectern of the invention is not associated to a receptacle for stationery detachable joining means are necessary between the respective bottom portions of the front panel 1 or front flat surface 20 and of the back panel 6 or back flat surface 21.

[0026] In Figs. 5-5c said joining means comprise at least a pair of strips 10, 11 respectively deriving from the bottom major free edge of the front panel 1 or front flat surface 20 and from the bottom major free edge of the back panel 6 or back flat surface 21, or vice versa, said strips 10, 11 having at their respective free ends arrangements 10a, 11a for a detachable mutual attachment.

[0027] In Figs. 1-1c said joining means comprise at least one joining element 12 deriving from the bottom major free edge of the front panel 1 or front flat surface 20, said joining element having at its free end a detachable attaching arrangement 12a passing through a slot 6a of the bottom region of the back panel 6 or back flat surface 21 thereby attaching itself to it, or vice versa.

[0028] In Figs. 3-3c said joining means comprise at least one joining element 12b deriving from the bottom major free edge of the back panel 6 or back flat surface 21, said joining element 12b having at its free end an arrangement 12c passing through a slot 20a of the bottom region of the front panel 1 or front flat surface 20, said arrangement 12c when projecting and having been folded upwards besides forming said means to support and retain the bottom edge 3 of the sheet or sheets 2.

[0029] In Figs. 4-4a said joining means comprise a joining strip 9 deriving from the bottom edge of the back panel 6, said joining strip 9 having two side members 9a which are each hinged along a respective folding line 9b and apt to form a frontally open box arrangement provided to be inserted through a window 9c provided in a region near the bottom edge of said front panel 1, said side members comprising notches 5a for their coupling to said front panel 1, said notches at the same time forming said means to support and retain the bottom edge 3 of the sheet or sheets 2. Said side members 9a end at their front end in laps 9d apt to be folded and integrating appendages 9e apt to be inserted into slots of the strip 9, in such a way that said laps 9d limit at least in part said front opening.

[0030] A series of exemplary embodiments of the lectern of the present invention are characterized in that said piece 7, once properly folded and erected, forms a receptacle for loose sheets 15, writing utensils or the like, said receptacle forming said propping means, whereas said backrest arrangement and said means to support and retain the bottom edge 3 of the sheet or sheets 2 derive from said receptacle.

[0031] In the examples illustrated in Figs. 8-8a, 10-10c, 11-11c and 12-12c said receptacle adopts the shape of a box provided to receive a pile of loose sheets 15, with a base side member 17, a top side member 18 incorporating a notched recess 18a at its front free edge, lateral side members 19a, 19b, an open front side member and a back wall 22, 39, 40, 41. Said box does normally besides incorporate retention stops 16 either deriving from said base side member 17 and provided with means to detachably attach them to said lateral side members 19, 19b or vice versa, said stops limiting the opening of said open front side member of said box. The part corresponding to the backrest arrangement in the examples of Figs. 8-8a and 12-12c has already been described above.

[0032] As for Figs. 10-10c, said base side member 17 of the box integrates a curvi-convex back edge 17a provided at least at its mid region with a lap 17b, whereas the back wall 22 derives from one of the lateral side members 19a and comprises a joining arrangement 22a to be attached to the opposite lateral side member 19b, said back wall 22 adopting when in the erected condition a buckled surface shape inclined backwards due to the abutting action exerted by said lap 17b, said back wall 22 projecting upwards over said box thus forming said front panel 1 of said backrest arrangement, said means to support and retain the bottom edge 3 of the sheet or sheets 2 being formed by notches 22b, 22c respectively formed at the region connecting the back wall 22 to the lateral side member 19a and at the joining arrangement 22a. A toe 23 has been provided which is hinged to the back edge of the top side member 18 of the box by means of a rectilinear folding line 23a, said toe 23 having a curvilinear free edge directly facing said front panel 1 and tending to press the sheet or sheets 2 against this latter thus contributing to maintain the stability of said sheet or sheets in their erect position.

[0033] In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in Figs. 11-11c said box comprises an upper slot 1a of curvilinear development transversally extending throughout the top side member 18 in a region near its back edge, the ends of said slot extending to form corresponding lateral slots 1c, 1d partially extending across the respective lateral side members 19a, 19b thus defining a slightly backwards inclined channel deep enough to maintain the stability of one or more superimposed sheets 2 in their erect position, said upper slot 1a determining said backrest arrangement, said lateral slots 1c, 1d determining said supporting and retaining means.

[0034] It is finally to be pointed out with reference to Figs. 13 and 13a that the lectern of the present invention comprises a marker accessory 24 to mark the lines on the sheet or sheets 2, said marker accessory being slidable and being formed from a punched sheet integrating at one of its ends an enlarged area 24b including a slit profile 25 forming a clip or gripping element provided to grip one of the lateral edges 3a of the sheet or sheets 2, an elongated segment 24c starting from said enlarged area 24b and extending into the front surface of the sheet by way of a ruler or line marker; said slit profile 25 adopting the shape of a curved or broken line whose profile is convex towards the region from which said elongated segment 24c starts, said broken line ending at each of both ends in a respective small slit 25a provided as per a direction parallel to said lateral edges 3a. For a more comfortable use said accessory 24 does besides comprise adjacent to said enlarged area 24b a grabbing area 24a which when in use projects laterally from said lateral edge 3a to facilitate the manipulation of said accessory, although an accessory like the described one but without said grabbing area (not shown) is equally operative and can be used to be incorporated to the lectern of Figs. 7-7d without exceeding the dimensions of said pad 38 of removable sheets.

[0035] The exemplary embodiments described above are merely illustrative examples, and in no case shall be construed in a limiting sense. An ordinary skilled person would be in a position to introduce numerous modifications without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A lectern of reduced dimensions formed from a piece (7) of sheet material with at least one folding line (5a, 8, 8a), said piece (7) being properly folded and/or erected and being apt to integrate printed advertising; characterized in that it comprises:

a) a backrest arrangement spanning at least a portion of one or more superimposed sheets (2), said portion being adjacent to a bottom edge (3) of said sheet or sheets (2);

b) means to support and retain said bottom edge (3) of said sheet or sheets (2); and

c) means to prop said backrest arrangement in a slightly backwards inclined position;

in such a way that said sheet or sheets (2) held at their bottom edge (3) and leaning against said backrest arrangement adopt a buckled shape sufficiently assuring their stability in an erect position.

2. A lectern as per claim 1, characterized in that when being properly folded and erected said piece (7) forms a receptacle for loose sheets (15), writing utensils or the like, said receptacle forming said propping means, said backrest arrangement and said means to support and retain the bottom edge (3) of the sheet or sheets (2) deriving from said receptacle.

3. A lectern as per claim 1, characterized in that said backrest arrangement consists in a front panel (1) which when in the operative position forms a buckled, curvi-concave surface facing the observer/end user.

4. A lectern as per claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a front flat surface (20) and a back flat surface (21) with a folding between them formed by a folding line (8a) and forming a profile in the shape of an inverted "V", said back sheet having edges (21a) which in the erected position project over said front flat surface (20) with their two lateral upper ends thus determining said backrest arrangement against which the sheet or sheets (2) come to lean thus adopting a buckled shape, said edges (21a) having each been obtained by means of a slit (21b) provided along an extension of said folding line (8a), this latter being rectilinear and situated in a central position.

5. A lectern as per claim 3 or 4, characterized in that said means to support and retain said bottom edge (3) of the sheet or sheets (2) comprise at least one toe (4) deriving from a region near the bottom edge of said front panel (1) or said front flat surface (20) in its operative position, said toe being obtained by punching by means of an upper curvilinear slit (4a) and a curvilinear lower folding line (4b).

6. A lectern as per claim 3, characterized in that said means to support and retain said bottom edge (3) are obtained by means of a portion (5) of said front panel (1) adjacent to the bottom edge of this latter and folded upwards along a curvilinear folding line (5a) cooperating in the adoption of said buckled surface shape on the part of the front panel (1).

7. A lectern as per claim 3, characterized in that said means to prop said backrest arrangement in an inclined position comprise a back panel (6) forming an extension by way of a lap of said front panel (1), folded along a curvilinear folding line (8) thus forming a profile in the shape of an inverted "V", said curvilinear folding line (8) forcing the front panel (1) to adopt said buckled surface shape.

8. A lectern as per claim 3, characterized in that said means to prop said backrest arrangement in an inclined position comprise a back lap (13) forming an upper extension of said front panel (1), folded along a rectilinear folding line (22) and adhered to the back side of said front panel (1) by means of at least one spot of adhesive (26), said back lap (13) extending to form a back propping panel (27) folded along a curvilinear folding line (28) forcing the front panel (1) to adopt said buckled surface shape.

9. A lectern as per claim 8, characterized in that said back propping panel (27) extends through a spine panel (33) followed by a base panel (34) which are respectively apt to be folded along rectilinear folding lines (35, 36) whereas the front panel (1) extends to form a strip (37) ending in a pull (37a), said strip (37) being inserted into a slot (36a) adjacent to said folding line (36), a pad (38) of removable sheets being adhered onto said base panel (34) in such a way that the assembly is apt to adopt a first folded position wherein the different panels (1, 13, 27, 33, 34) are arranged as covers for said pad (38), pull (37a) projecting in said position through slot (36a) , and a second erected position obtained by pulling pull (37a) , the front panel (1) being in said position propped in an inclined position and thus adopting said buckled surface shape behind the pad (38) acting as a counterweight.

10. A lectern as per claim 3, characterized in that said means to prop said backrest arrangement in an inclined position comprise a joining strip (29) deriving from the bottom edge of said front panel (1), folded along a rectilinear folding line (29a), and adhered to the back side of said front panel (1) by means of at least one spot of adhesive (30), said joining strip (29) extending to form a propping back panel (31) apt to be revolved around a rectilinear folding line (29b), said propping back panel (31) having edges starting at both ends of said rectilinear folding line (29b) and configuring end points (31a), in such a way that said propping back panel (31) is apt to adopt a stable folded position wherein it lies on said front panel (1) thereby forming a flat assembly, and a stable erected position wherein said end points (31a) are engaged in lateral notches (32) of the front panel (1) thereby forcing this latter to adopt said buckled surface shape and at the same time maintaining the propping back panel (31) in its condition as a means to prop said buckled surface arrangement.

11. A lectern as per claim 7, characterized in that said piece of sheet material (7) is made of a semirigid plastics material which after having been folded along said curvilinear folding line (8) forms said inverted "V" profile of said front and back panels (1, 6) and said buckled surface shape of said front panel (1) in a permanently stable manner.

12. A lectern as per claim 3, characterized in that it comprises detachable joining means between the respective bottom portions of the front panel (1) or front flat surface (20) and of the back panel (6) or back flat surface (21).

13. A lectern as per claim 12, characterized in that said joining means comprise at least a pair of strips (10, 11) respectively deriving from the bottom major free edge of the front panel (1) or front flat surface (20) and from the bottom major free edge of the back panel (6) or back flat surface (21), or vice versa, said strips (10, 11) having at their respective free ends arrangements (10a, 11a) for a detachable mutual attachment.

14. A lectern as per claim 12, characterized in that said joining means comprise at least one joining element (12) deriving from the bottom major free edge of the front panel (1) or front flat surface (20), said joining element (12) having at its free end a detachable attaching arrangement (12a) passing through a slot (6a) of the bottom region of the back panel (6) or back flat surface (21) thereby attaching itself to it, or vice versa.

15. A lectern as per claim 12, characterized in that said joining means comprise at least one joining element (12b) deriving from the bottom major free edge of the back panel (6) or back flat surface (21), said joining element (12b) having at its free end an arrangement (12c) passing through a slot (20a) of the bottom region of the front panel (1) or front flat surface (20), said arrangement (12c) when projecting and having been folded upwards besides forming said means to support and retain the bottom edge (3) of the sheet or sheets (2).

16. A lectern as per claim 12, characterized in that said joining means comprise a joining strip (9) deriving from the bottom edge of the back panel (6), said joining strip (9) having two side members (9a) which are each hinged along a respective folding line (9b) and apt to form a frontally open box arrangement provided to be inserted through a window (9c) provided in a region near the bottom edge of said front panel (1), said side members comprising notches (5a) for their coupling to said front panel (1), said notches at the same time forming said means to support and retain the bottom edge (3) of the sheet or sheets (2).

17. A lectern as per claim 16, characterized in that said side members (9a) end at their front end in laps (9d) apt to be folded and integrating appendages (9e) apt to be inserted into slots of the strip (9), in such a way that said laps (9d) limit at least in part said front opening.

18. A lectern as per claim 2, characterized in that said receptacle adopts the shape of a box provided to receive a pile of loose sheets (15), with a base side member (17), a top side member (18) incorporating a notched recess (18a) at its front free edge, lateral side members (19a, 19b), an open front side member and a back wall (22, 39, 40, 41).

19. A lectern as per claim 18, characterized in that it incorporates retention stops (16) either deriving from said base side member (17) and provided with means to detachably attach them to said lateral side members (19a, 19b) or vice versa, said stops limiting the opening of said open front side member of said box.

20. A lectern as per claim 18, characterized in that said base side member (17) integrates a curvi-convex back edge (17a) provided at least at its mid region with a lap (17b), whereas the back wall (22) derives from one of the lateral side members (19a) and comprises a joining arrangement (22a) to be attached to the opposite lateral side member (19b), said back wall (22) adopting when in the erected condition a buckled surface shape inclined backwards due to the abutting action exerted by said lap (17b), said back wall (22) projecting upwards over said box thus forming said front panel (1) of said backrest arrangement, said means to support and retain the bottom edge (3) of the sheet or sheets (2) being formed by notches (22b, 22c) respectively formed at the region connecting the back wall (22) to the lateral side member (19a) and at the joining arrangement (22a).

21. A lectern as per claim 18, characterized in that a toe (23) has been provided which is hinged to the back edge of the top side member (18) of the box by means of a rectilinear folding line (23a), said toe (23) having a curvilinear free edge directly facing said front panel (1) and tending to press the sheet or sheets (2) against this latter thus contributing to maintain the stability of said sheet or sheets in their erect position.

22. A lectern as per claim 18, characterized in that said box comprises an upper slot (1a) of curvilinear development transversally extending throughout the top side member (18) in a region near its back edge, the ends of said slot extending to form corresponding lateral slots (1c, 1d) partially extending across the respective lateral side members (19a, 19b) thus defining a slightly backwards inclined channel deep enough to maintain the stability of one or more superimposed sheets (2) in their erect position, said upper slot (1a) determining said backrest arrangement, said lateral slots (1c, 1d) determining said supporting and retaining means.

23. A lectern as per claim 18, characterized in that said back wall (40) derives from the base side member (17) and comprises joining arrangements (40a) for its attachment to the lateral side members (19a, 19b), said back wall (40) being flat and configuring at its top free edge end points (40b) situated at a higher level as compared with that of a central portion (40c) and joining this latter through a curvi-concave length thus forming said front panel (1), whereas from the top side member (18) derives through punching at least one lap (18b) forming in cooperation with said top side member (18) said supporting and retaining means.

24. A lectern as per claim 18, characterized in that a back propping panel (27) derives from said back wall (41) and through a curvilinear folding line is connected to a back lap in its turn extending to form a front panel (1) folded onto this latter along a rectilinear folding line (22), there being at least one spot of adhesive attachment between said back lap and said front panel (1), there being at a region near a bottom edge of said front panel (1) a folding toe apt to perform the functions of said means to support and retain the bottom edge (3) of the sheet or sheets (2), in such a way that the assembly can adopt a position wherein it lies on said box, or an erected position wherein it is held in a slightly inclined, erect position thereby forming said buckled surface retained at its bottom edge by means of a retainer element (18c) formed on the top wall (18) of the box.

25. A lectern as per any of claims 2-4, 9 or 18, characterized in that it comprises a marker accessory (24) to mark the lines on the sheet or sheets (2), said marker accessory being formed from a punched sheet integrating at one of its ends an enlarged area (24b) including a slit profile (25) forming a clip or gripping element provided to grip one of the lateral edges (3a) of the sheet or sheets (2), an elongated segment (24c) starting from said enlarged area (24b) and extending into the front surface of the sheet by way of a ruler or line marker; said slit profile (25) forming said clip adopting the shape of a curved or broken line whose profile is convex towards the region from which said elongated segment (24c) starts, said broken line ending at each of both ends in a respective small slit (25a) provided as per a direction parallel to said lateral edges (3a).

26. A lectern as per claim 25, characterized in that said accessory (24) does besides comprise adjacent to said enlarged area (24b) a grabbing area (24a) which when in use projects laterally from said lateral edge (3a) to facilitate the manipulation of said accessory.

Drawing