Improved Map Case or Holder and Map for use in Connection therewith.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Mar., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Dec., 1897-Accepted, 5th Feb.,
1898
Improved Map Case or Holder and Map for use in Connection
therewith.
I, PERCY WALLIS, of Queensberry Road, Kettering, in the County of Northamp-
ton, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The invention is designed to provide a pocket case or holder for maps for the
use of cyclists and other tourists in which the map while being kept covered or
enclosed may be inspected at any point over its surface.
1
A metal or other stiff casing is provided formed in two parts hinged together so as
to close one over or upon the other. In each of these is mounted a roller spindle
or equivalent capable of being rotated upon which a long strip of material may be
wound. The two rollers or spindles are so placed that the strip may be wound
from one to the other whether the casing is open or closed. And when the casing
is open the strip may be altogether removed from one or both without being at
the same time rewound upon the other.
The rollers or spindles are carried in suitable bearings in which they can be
rotated and are provided at one or both ends with knobs or handles whereby they,
may be turned in either direction.
The metal or stiff frame on casing is provided with a back of leather, cloth, or
other flexible material placed or affixed with a pleat or fold so as to expand and the
front is formed of a sheet or plate of celluloid, mica, glass or other transparent
material bound in or secured with an edging of leather capable also of expanding.
The spindle is preferably formed of double wire or with a slit through it and the
map is secured by means of a piece of tape or textile material formed with a slot
into which is inserted a small piece of wood or other material after the edge has
been passed through the slit or slot in the spindle.
The map is cut into strips and joined together and then rolled up upon the roller
in the case and by turning the rollers the map may be seen through the transparent
cover without exposing it to the elements.
In preparing the strips of map each strip is preferably cut so as to overlap the
preceding one to render it more easy to trace the roads and places than if the
end of one strip exactly coincided with the beginning of the next.
Dated this 5th day of March 1807

page_text: I.
Covation used.
Fig. 5. End elevation open.
Fig. 6. Longitudinal section closed.
Fig. 7. Transverse section closed.
Fig. 8. Sectional detail showing method of securing the map to the roller.
The holder or case is constructed with a stiff or rigid framing or casing A of 1
two parts hinged together by a hinge or pivot a, so as to be capable of closing
together or opening flat. The framing A is preferably made of metal such as a
stamping of brass, white metal or the like, but, if desired, may be made of vul-
canite, celluloid or other suitable material.
In each side of the frame A is mounted a roller or spindla B, capable of being 2
a. it
this or spindles being placed in inen respective
sides of the frame, that when it is closed they are as near as possible or convenient
to the sides of the holder, and may in this position be rotated to wind a strip of
material in either direction from one to the other.
The holder may be made of any suitable size, but it is intended to be of such a 2
size as to be conveniently carried in the pocket, and the map 1 to be carried
therein, is cut into strips of the width of the case, and these strips joined at the
ends to give any desired size or length of map, which can be conveniently carried
and examined as occasion may arise, when cycling, walking or otherwise engaged.
The strip forming the map D is removably attached at one end to one roller B, 3
and at the other end, to the other roller B, and it may be wound in whole or in part
from one roller to the other, whether the holder be open or closed, but when the
case is open a larger surface of the map is exposed to view than when the holder
is closed. When the case or holder is open, the map D may be altogether removed
from one or both rollers without at the same time being rewound upon the other,
so that the whole extent of the map may be examined.
The rollers B are both (at one or both ends) provided with knobs C, by which they
may be rotated to cause the map to travel in either direction being wound up
upon one roller, whilst being unwound from the other.
The frame A is provided with an expanding back E of leather, cloth, rubber or
other flexible material placed or fixed with a pleat or fold e, and with a front with
a sheet I' of celluloid, mica, glass or other transparent material, bound in or secured
with an edging of leather, cloth, rubber or other flexible material, also folded or
pleated, so as to be capable of expanding. The back E and front F are thus cap-
able of expanding, as may be required to permit of the whole length of the map D
being wound upon either one of the rollers B.
The rollers or spindles B are each preferably formed of two pieces of wire b
with a slit between them (see Fig. 8) or of a single piece of
metal or other material with a longitudinal slit, and the map 1) is
preferably secured thereto by forming the edge with a slot d which
is passed through the slit 6, and keyed by & piece of wire,
wood or other material inserted therein, which prevents the edge being drawn
through the slit 6', but which can be easily removed, when it is desired to replace
the map. The map may however, be secured to the rollers by a clip, or in any
other suitable way.
The map D is formed of strips cut from the ordinary ordnance or other map,
joined together at the ends, and is then attached to and rolled up upon the rollers B,

page_text: and any part of the map may be exposed to view by turning the rollers, and wind-
ing it from to the other. When the holder is closed, the map may be viewed
through the transparent plate F of the front cover without exposing it to the
elements.
In preparing the strips of map I prefer to cut them from two similar maps, so
that one edge (say the left hand edge) of one shall overlap or retain part of what
is in the reverse (or right hand) edge of the preceding one, to render it more easy
to trace the roads and places thereon, when the map is traversed by winding upon
the rollers from one section to the next, than would be the case if the edge of one
section exactly corresponded with the preceding one. For economy, however, a
single map may be cut into strips, and one strip joined to the end of the next. Or
the map may comprise only a single strip, running from North to South or West
to East of a single map.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. A map case or holder constructed with a stiff metallic or other frame in two
parts hinged together each part carrying a roller capable of rotation with the ends
of a map removably affixed thereto, a flexible back and a transparent front capable
of expanding to permit of the full length of the map being wound upon one roller,
substantially as described.
2. A map case or holder constructed and arranged substantially as described
and shown.
and shown.
Dated this 27th day of November 1897.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool. & London, Patent Agents.