Improvements in Files or Binders for Letters and other Papers, and in Apparatus for Perforating the Latter.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Aug., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 29th May, 1891-Accepted, 18th July, 1891
*
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Files or Binders for Letters and other Papers, and
in Apparatus for Perforating the Latter.
I, THEODORE LANG, of 25 Rue Fresnel, Paris, in the Republic of France,
Cashier, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The invention forming the subject of the present application relates to an improved
system of file or binder for letters, &c., which presents the following principal
advantages.
1. Of giving in a very simple manner the required pressure to the bound
sheets.
2. Of readily placing or removing at any convenient place one or several sheets
simultaneously.
3. Of ensuring the fixture of the sheets as securely as by ordinary binding, and
that by a new mode of perforation, which I claim as my invention in all its applica-
tions to filing or binding papers.
The accompanying drawings represent the arrangement which I give to my
invention, as also the principle on which it is based.
This principle is the combination of tightening cords, having automatic tension,
upon which the sheets of paper are strung, as will be hereinafter described.
Figures 1 and 2 show a very practical application of the said principle, in which
four cords a, b, c, d, are located in one of the sides of the cover, so as to pass
between small levers 5, 6, 7 and 8 and fixed stops i. Each of these stops corre-
sponds with the small arm of the adjacent lever, whilst the opposite end of the said
lever comes against a stud or abutment carried by a slide or tongue f terminating in
a ring or finger piece e, by which it can be handled.
Figures 3 and 4 represent respectively an end view and a transverse section of
the file or binder.
Figure 5 shows the apparatus, properly so called, detached from its contents.
Figure 6 shows the interior separately and supposed to be furnished with bound
sheets.
Figures 7 and 7A represent respectively an elevation and a plan of the perforating
apparatus.
Figure 8 shows an end view of the same.
Figure 9 represents the form of perforation special to my system.
The operation, which is very simple, is effected in the following manner.
To loosen the file or binder, the side A is held fixed against the person using the
file or binder, and he pulls the ring or disc e, the slide or tongue f is drawn along,
the studs or abutments 1, 2, 3 and 4, which are fixed to it, push the ends of the
levers 5, 6, 7 and 8, which turn on their axes of rotation.
By reason of the long arm of the lever upon which the studs or abutments act,
each of the levers receives a slight rotation around its axis, the end adjacent to this
axis is then separated from the corresponding stop against which it pressed the
cord; further the traction given to e draws at the same time, the opposite side B of
the cover, the cords will be able to pass freely between each of the studs or abut-
ments and the end of the corresponding lever.
Figure 1 shows the position of the system when it is loosened, to permit of
introducing one or several sheets.
To tighten the file or binder, the apparatus being in the position just described,
the loops g, h, formed by the cords a, b, c, d, are pulled in contrary directions;
the binding being tightened it will remain in this condition, for all effort pro-
voked by the tendency to become loose acts with a large lever arm upon the

page_text: small arms of the levers 5, 6, 7 and 8, and conduces by this fact, a strong
pressure on the corresponding stop i; this pressure is entirely opposed to the
displacement of the cords. It will be seen that the back 7 of the file or binder
slides upon the sides in such manner as to adapt itself to the tightening and
loosening movements just described, but it is important to remark that the
application of my arrangement of cords to files or binders is really only
practicable by means of the special form of perforation which I have devised
to apply to the sheets. This perforation, which is represented by Figure 8,
permits of introducing the sheets by stringing them astride upon the cords of
the file or binder; for this purpose it is composed of two parts, the circular
hole in which each end of the cord is lodged, and a slit reaching from this hole to
the inner edge of the sheet. I always preferably form this slit tangentially to
each hole, in such a way that once the sheet is introduced upon the cord and
this latter is placed in the perforated hole, it may have its bearing entirely
upon the uncut paper.
It results from this method of perforating that the file or binder being open, the
sheet is placed naturally astride upon each strand of the cord by a slight opening
of the slit of the perforation; but as soon as the tightening has taken place, the
two edges of the slit come together and the sheet cannot therefore become dis-
engaged from the cords of the file or binder.
This combination of my system of perforation and pressure can serve as a basis of
numerous applications in the manufacture of files or binders.
Figures 7, 74 and 8 show the arrangement by means of which I make these
perforations. It is mounted upon a hollow base m to receive and disengage the
cuttings. The punches n are mounted upon a plate o with a handle to receive the
pressure. The matrices are pierced in the plate p and a flat or other spring assures
the opening out or separation of the two parts o and p.
Between these two plates is placed a fixed plate 7 which is traversed by the
punches and which serves to free the punches when they are raised..
This system is arranged to receive a large number of interiors similar to Figure 6,
and to permit this replacing the four cords a, b, c, d, are terminated by a loop r
(Figures 1, 2 and 5) which engage in a sheath s fixed upon the opposite side to the
one carrying the slide f. The pin t is threaded in this sheath and passes through
each loop, which thus firmly unites both sides of the apparatus.
When an interior is full, the pin is withdrawn and the cords are unthreaded from
the holes and they are replaced by paper binders u as shown in Figure 6. The
interior has a back u with an adhesive border c, which covers the whole and gives
to the interior the aspect of a very strong and neatly bound volume.
Dated this 29th day of August 1890.
THEODORE LANG.
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Files or Binders for Letters and other Papers, and
in Apparatus for Perforating the Latter.
I, THEODORE LANG of 25 Rue Fresnel, Paris in the Republic of France,
Cashier do hereby declare the nature of the said invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement reference being had to the drawings accompanying my
Provisional Specification and to those accompanying the present Specification, the
former of which I will refer to as Sheets 1. 2. 3. and the latter as Sheets 4
and 5-
The invention forming the subject of the present application relates to an improved

page_text: advantages.
1st. Of giving in a very simple manner the required pressure to the bound
sheets.
2nd. Of readily placing or removing at any convenient place one or several sheets
simultaneously.
3rd. Of ensuring the fixture of the sheets as securely as by ordinary binding, and
that by a new mode of perforation which I claim as my invention in all its applica-
tions to filing or binding papers.
The accompanying drawings and those accompanying my Provisional Specifica-
tion represent the arrangement which I give to my invention, as also the principle
on which it is based.
This principle is the combination of tightening cords, having automatic tension,
upon which the sheets of paper are strung as will be hereinafter described.
Figures 1 and 2 Sheet 1, show a very practical application of the said principle
in which four cords a, b, c, d are located in one of the sides of the cover, so as to
pass between small levers 5, 6, 7 and 8 and fixed stops . Each of these stops
corresponds with the small arm of the adjacent lever whilst the opposite end of the
said lever comes against a stud or abutment carried by a slide or tongue f, termin-
ating in a ring or finger piece e, by which it can be handled.
Figures 3 and 4 Sheet 2 represent respectively an end view and a transverse
section of the file or binder.
Figure 5 Sheet 3 shows the apparatus, properly so called, detached from its
contents.
Figure 6, Sheet 3, shows the interior separately and supposed to be furnished
with bound sheets.
Figures 7 and 74, Sheet 3, represent respectively an elevation and a plan of the
perforating apparatus.
Figure 8. Sheet 3 shows an end view of the same.
Figure 9. Sheet 3 represents the form of perforation special to my system.
The operation which is very simple is effected in the follo ving manner.
To loosen the file or binder the side A is held fixed against the person using the
file or binder and he pulls the ring or disc e, the slide or tongue f, is drawn along,
the studs or abutments 1, 2, 3, and 4, which are fixed to it push the ends of the
levers 5 6 7 and 8 which turn on their axes of rotation.
By reason of the long arm of the lever upon which the studs or abutments act
each of the levers receives a slight rotation round its axis, the end adjacent to this
axis is then separated from the corresponding stop against which it pressed the
cord; further the traction given to e, draws at the same time the opposite side B,
of the cover, the cords will be able to pass freely between each of the studs or
abutments and the end of the corresponding lever.
Figure 1, Sheet 1, shows the position of the system, when it is loosened to permit
of-introducing one or several sheets.
To tighten the file or binder, the apparatus being in the position just described,
the loops g, h, formed by the cords a, b, c, d, are pulled in contrary directions; the
binding being tightened it will remain in this condition for all effort provoked by
the tendency to become loose acts with a large lever arm upon the small arms of
the levers 5, 6, 7, and 8, and conduces by this fact a strong pressure on the corre-
sponding stop i; this pressure is entirely opposed to the displacement of the cords.
It will be seen that the back 1, of the file or binder slides upon the sides in such
manner as to adapt itself to the tightening and loosening movements just
described.
But it is important to remark that the application of my arrangement of cords to
files or binders is really only practicable by means of the special form of perforation
which I have devised to apply to the sheets. This perforation which is represented
by Figure 8 Sheet 3, permits of introducing the sheets by stringing their astride
upon the cords of the file or binder, for this purpose it is composed of two parts;

page_text: the circular hole in which each end of the cord is lodged, and a slit reaching from
this hole to the inner edge of the sheet.
I always preferably form this slit tangentially to each hole in such a way that
once the sheet is introduced upon the cord, and this latter is placed in the perforated
hole it may have its bearing entirely upon the uncut paper.
It results from this method of perforating that the file or binder being open, the
sheet is placed naturally astride upon each strand of the cord by a slight opening
of the slit of the perforation; but as soon as the tightening has taken place the two
edges of the slit come together and the sheet cannot therefore become disengaged
from the cords of the file or binder.
This combination of my system of perforation and pressure can serve as a basis
of numerous applications in the manufacture of files or binders.
Figures 7, 74, and 8 Sheet 3. show the arrangement by means of which I make
these perforations. It is mounted upon a hollow base m, to receive and disengage
the cuttings. The punches n, are mounted upon a plate o, with a handle to receive
the pressure. The matrices are pierced in the plate p, and a flat or other spring
assures the opening out or separation of the two parts o, and p.
Between these two plates is placed a fixed plate 9 which is traversed by the
punches and which serves to free the punches when they are raised.
This system is arranged to receive a large number of interiors similar to Figure 6
Sheet 3. and to permit this replacing the four cords a, b, c, d, are terminated by a
loop (Figures 1, 2, Sheet 1 and Figure 5 Sheet 3,) which engage in a sheath s
fixed upon the opposite side to the one carrying the slide f. The pin, is threaded
in this sheath and passes through each loop which thus firmly unites both sides of
the apparatus.
When an interior is full, the pin is withdrawn and the cords are unthreaded from
the holes and they are replaced by paper binders u, as shown in Figure 6 Sheet 3.
The interior has a back r, with an adhesive border which covers the whole
and gives to the interior the aspect of a very strong and neatly bound volume.
The drawings accompanying the present Specification represent different modifi-
cations of my improved system of file or binder.
These modifications bear upon three different points whose object is to simplify
the manufacture of the article and at the same time render its working and its use
more practicable; these three points are as follows:-
1st. Simplified means for disengaging the cords from their stop levers.
2nd. The arrangement of the threads or cords, all of whose parts are accessible in
such manner that they can be renewed at will.
3rd. The fixing of one of the sides of the back instead of making the two sides
moveable as hereinbefore described.
Figure 1. Sheet 4, shows in plan the cord binding levers with their modified
controlling arrangement.
Figure 2. Sheet 4, represents a corresponding elevation of the cords which are
supposed to be fixed by the depression of the lever.
Figure 3 Sheet 4, is a similar view to Figure 2 except that the levers are raised
and consequently the cords released.
Figure 4 Sheet 4 shows the interior side of the cover on which are fixed the ends
of the cords.
Figure 5 Sheet 5, represents more especially the modified arrangement of back
the file being empty.
Figure 6 Sheet 5, shows the same back with the file quite full.
In this modified arrangement the binding levers of the cords a, act in principle as
hereinbefore described by their heel or small arm, but these levers are reduced to
two and are placed in a kind of metal box c, in the sides of which are fixed their
trunnions d. The levers b, are raised simultaneously by means of a string e, see
Figure 3 Sheet 4, traction on the cords a, presses them down as in the arrangement
hereinbefore described.
The four ends 1, 2, 3, 4, of the cords a, are brought together on the interior

page_text: surface on the side of the cover opposite to that which receives the levers and they
are fixed to it by cement, sewing, clasp or otherwise but so as to remain visible, see
Figure 4 Sheet 4, which allows of the cords being easily replaced in case of
accident.
Finally I have simplified the back, whilst making it more serviceable by fixing
one of its edges with the adjacent side of the cover as in ordinary binding, the
other edge ends at each extremity by a curved finger or slide 9, sliding freely on
the cover and allowing it to assume a breadth corresponding to the thickness of the
documents filed in the apparatus.
It will be readily understood that the cords used may be made of any suitable
material and may consist for instance of a band or flexible metallic ribbon made of
steel for example.
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 :-
The improvements in files or binders for letters and other papers, and in apparatus
for perforating the latter, substantially as herein shown and described.
Dated this 29th day of May 1891.
THÉODORE LANG.
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.