the task of positioning the portion of a book holder that supports and secures the book being read correctly , hereinafter called the book receiver , is simplified if it can be rotated about three roughly orthogonal axes independently , meaning that any one rotation will not substantially interfere with the adjustments controlled by the others . the axes of rotation 101 , 102 , and 103 , shown in fig1 extend in parallel with , perpendicularly downward , and transverse to the back portion of a book receiver 1 . the control system shown in fig1 has been designed to be operated by the user from his / her reading position . it shows a rotation control system allowing about 150 degrees of rotation of the book receiver about the horizontal axis 101 , and 200 to 360 degrees about the transverse axis 103 , and employs a single clamping member 6 for clamping the two rotations . rotation about the vertical axis 102 is separate , which is not a disadvantage because this rotation does not affect the height of the center of gravity of the book receiver and thus does not require tight clamping . the back member of a book receiver 1 is connected by rivets 2 to the axle shaft 3 and to the torque transmitting member 4 . it rotates as an assembly about the transverse axis 103 relative to the intermediate member 5 . this design forces the clamping member 6 to participate fully in the rotation of the axle shaft 3 and book receiver 1 , prevents it from loosening spontaneously , and generates friction torque at both faces of the intermediate member 5 . the upper portion of angle rod 9 / 10 serves as an axle shaft 8 , permitting the intermediate member 5 to rotate about the horizontal axis 101 . a slot 11 splits this bearing and submits it to the pressure of clamping member 6 described above . the ratio of the clamping torques applied to axle shafts 3 and 8 is controlled by many parameters , such as the diameters of the two axle shafts , the material used for the friction washer 7 and its diameter , the distance between axes 101 and 103 , and other factors . rotation about the vertical axis 102 takes place at the point where the lower portion 10 of the angle rod 9 / 10 connects to a support member 12 . [ 0016 ] fig2 shows the upper portion of a book holder floor stand , comprising outlines of a book receiver 20 and an adjustment member 21 , which may be the structure detailed in fig1 supported by a floor stand assembly 22 . the floor stand includes a post member 25 and base member 30 ( fig3 a and b ), which in this embodiment includes a set of long feet 31 and a set of short feet 32 ( fig3 a ). the feet of each set are spaced from one another by angles α and β ranging between 30 to 120 degrees for the long feet 31 , and from 90 to 180 degrees for the short feet 32 . the post 25 is connected to the base member 30 by a screw 40 or by other conventional means , for instance a weld , a flange , or a hanger bolt engaging a pin not shown in the drawings . it extends upward from the center of the base member 30 . an extension member 23 / 24 is shown with its upper portion 24 bent over obliquely to increase the overhang of the book receiver , which is important in situations where the reading stand cannot be brought sufficiently close to the user . its lower portion 23 is slideably connected to the post 25 to permit adjustment of the elevation of the book receiver 1 relative to the user &# 39 ; s line of sight . in order to allow rotation of the book receiver about the vertical center line 102 of the post member , the lower portion 23 of the extension member 23 / 24 may be a telescoping tube or a rod carrying a centering washer 26 . in either case the design may include a clamping collet 27 , or some other conventional clamping means to lock it in place . a friction member such as the compressed o - ring 28 or a spring member not shown in the drawing , which would generate friction between the lower portion 23 of the extension member and the inner wall of the post member 25 , may be provided to prevent the extension member from falling when the clamping means 27 is loosened . if the extension member 23 / 24 ( fig3 b ) is rotated , for instance from position 34 to position 35 shown in dotted outline ( fig3 b ), it has to be balanced by one or several counterweights . a good location of the main counterweight 36 ( fig3 a and b ) , which minimizes its required and size , is in the area 37 between the two long feet 31 of the base member , extending inward from the dotted line 38 joining the distant ends of these feet . the base member 30 of the support stand may be designed to serve as an additional , smaller , counterweight if required , or such an additional weight 39 may be placed above or below it , for instance as shown in fig3 b .