What is it?

The Cork booklift is a simple block of cork that holds books and tablets at a gentle angle. It all started as a simple cookbook holder. We built a couple prototypes and it worked beautifully. Those prototypes ventured into every other room of my house. Reading on the couch, studying for exams, playing an iPad game, it's a constant companion now. Convenient for cookbooks, iPads, coffee table books, and bedtime reading.

Where is it used?

On the coffee table, thick, photo-filled books can rest opened, displaying beautiful pages all the time.
 

On the countertop it holds cookbooks up out of the mess and frees up space for tools and ingredients.

 

On your lap, the booklift helps hold the page, freeing up your hands to hold a coffee, a pencil or just to lean on a pillow.
 

Flipped over, the flat bottom holds tablets at a position easier to reach and read.

On a desk or table it lifts up the book and frees up space for notes, or a laptop; dramatically improving ergonomics, as well.

 

Initially devised as an elegant cookbook holder. With no clamps, no adjustments and no set up. We built a couple prototypes and it worked beautifully. But then it took on a life of its own. Those prototypes ventured into every other room of my house.

To the coffee table, where thick, photo-filled books can rest on an opened page all the time. On my lap, the booklift holds book covers open just enough to hold the page, freeing up my hands to hold a coffee, a pencil or just to lean on a pillow. Flipped over, my iPad crossword puzzle became way easier to reach and read. On a desk or table it lifts up the book and frees up space for notes, or a laptop; dramatically improving ergonomics, as well.

How it works.

The booklift works by tilting the book forward 10 degrees reducing glare of overhead lights. It also lifts the book 20mm up, bringing it closer to you, making reading and page turns easier. This has the added benefit of protecting the book from anything that might be on the table or counter surface. The top faces hold the book 90% open, which helps the book stay on the right page while the cork surface grips the cover without any need of a bottom ledge. A gentle groove gives the spine some space so it isn't crushed on the table. Flipped over, it's perfectly flat which grabs onto phones and tablets with ease making gaming, scrolling and Sunday crosswords all more comfortable. When it’s not in use, 90 degree sides allow it to rest alongside the books on the shelf.

" This whole project started out of a desire to make cookbooks easier to manage in the kitchen and actually cook with. They take up a ton of counter space and common kitchen lighting glares off the pages. A little tilt and lift makes a huge difference. With the booklift at work, the cookbook now floats above the countertop keeping the book safe from the wet, messy surface. "

Cork is amazing.

A cork oak’s bark is harvested every ten years or so over its’ 200 year lifespan, removing CO2 from the environment the whole time. The removal of the cork from the trees is fully sustainable (it's still done by hand to avoid damaging the tree). The cork oak evolved its thick protective bark to protect itself from insects and forest fires. Cork is water-proof, fire-proof, insect-proof, insulating and hydrophobic so it’s resistant to stains. At the end of its life, cork is recyclable and composable.

The world's best cork comes from Portugal. We’ve worked with a factory there to get a quote and make a set of prototypes. As soon as we’re funded, we will be able cut permanent aluminum tooling to make production units at larger quantities.

Please help us being this project to life without your support we could never make wonderful products like this. So if you believe in this project support it by backing it on Kickstarter.

Thanks so much

-Nate and Damein