A little while back, a dear friend asked me to build a bookstand to support an atlas which she uses pretty much on a daily basis. After talking with her and her family to gather all requirements and make measurements, I cobbled up a quick (for me) prototype outta tuba4's and assorted scrap which I quickly shellacked to glue the dust down and presented for approval of the dimensions, etc. *And* I told her that it was just a prototype and she couldn't keep it because it pains me greatly to see this collection of soon-to-be kindling in her home. Unfortunately, she loved it, but...
(Now since we all understand the relationship between good deeds and punishment, I figure you'll relate when I mention that this is the part of the story where feature creep rears its ugly head.)
... she has a need to sometimes walk around the house and sometimes let her wheelchair do the walking. So the added requirement is that this bookstand be adjustable in height. Now I've scratched my head over this for a while, been to the library, DAGS (several actually), and have to admit that I'm stuck. The deal is that it's gotta be rigid and stable. And effortless (or at least easy) to move from one position to the other. And look like furniture. (That's *my* requirement.) I've thought of cantilevering/counterbalancing, coil springs, gas springs, scissors jack, screw lifts, but nothing feels *right*.
So I fling my plea to the farthest reaches of the wreck. Any ideas? I don't reject the above mentioned methods out of hand, but I just haven't figured out how to incorporate them into something that I want to look like it belongs in a living room or study.
The range of the movement is approx. 12 inches. It will only rest in the two extreme positions. The weight of the atlas is 8-10 lbs. Did I mention that it has to be rigid and stable?
Would it help if I posted pictures of the prototype on abpf/w?
Hopefully,
Steve Stripling Huntsville, AL