Improvements relating to Clamps or Files for Holding Newspapers, Periodicals, Sheet-music and the like, and to Springs therefor.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd July, 1896--Accepted, 5th Sept., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Clamps or Files for Holding Newspapers,
Periodicals, Sheet-music and the like, and to Springs therefor.
I, FRANCIS ASBURY ELLIS, Merchant, of 7 Witte de Withstraat, Rotterdam,
in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, a citizen of Boston, Massachusetts, United
States of America, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to improvements in portable and desk clamps or files for
holding newspapers, periodicals, sheet-music and the like in a convenient
manner for reading or for reference, and for keeping them in a flat or unfolded
condition.
My said invention is chiefly designed to provide for the expansion or spreading
of the clamp or file at its jointed end when the two clamping members or strips
are turned about their joint towards each other to grip the paper or papers placed
in the clamp or file, so that, when the latter is closed, the adjacent faces of the
said members or strips will be parallel to each other, and the paper or papers will
be held with an approximately uniform pressure throughout the length of the same,
whether a single paper or any quantity of papers within the capacity of the clamp
or file are contained therein. I thus produce a clamp or file which is not only
adapted to contain a single newspaper, periodical or the like, but in which
newspapers or the like can be successively filed until the clamp contains a large
quantity of the same, the two clamping members or strips being spread apart
more and more as the papere in the clamp or file accumulate, but assuming and
maintaining their parallel relation at all times when the clamp or file is closed,
notwithstanding the increasing thickness of the bundle of papers contained therein.
By my said invention I also provide for expediting the introduction of the papers
into the clamp or file, and their removal therefrom.
An important feature of my said invention is the employment of an expansible
spring or springs for confining the two relatively movable clamping members or
strips at one end thereof, whilst permitting the required expansion or spreading of
the clamp at this end for the purpose above specified. The said spring is
preferably combined with a pivot or pivots for connecting it with one or both of
the clamping members or strips. The said clamping members or strips are held
together at or near their other end by means of a suitable extending or elongating
fastening, so that, when the clamp is closed, the said strips will always be
approximately parallel to each other. By permitting the expansion of the clamp
at the jointed end while the two strips are being closed together, 1 ensure the
distribution or equalization of the pressure on the papers throughout the bearing
surfaces when the clamp or file is closed, in contradistinction to what occurs in
clamps heretofore used in which the strips are hinged together at one end by an
unyielding or non-expansible hinge or joint.
My said invention also comprises improved expansible springs, and other
improvements hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawing I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice :-
Figure 1 is a side view of one form of my improved paper-clamp with a small
quantity of papers secured therein, the said clamp being shown in a inore extended
condition by dotted lines in this figure.
Figure 2 is a similar view showing the clamp partly opened.

page_text: Figure 3 is a plan or top view, drawn to an enlarged scale, of the expansible spring
which is shown in side view in Figure 1.
Figures 4 and 5 show a side view and a rear view respectively, of a modified
form of my expansible spring.
a, bare the relatively movable clamping members or strips of the clamp or
file. These strips may, if desired, be of the same length. For convenience in
using the clamp, however, I prefer to extend one of the said strips, for example,
the strip b, beyond the other strip at one end of the clamp, so as to form a handle c
whereby the clamp may be easily held in the hand.
d is the expausible spring, which, in the clamp shown, is rigidly secured to the
strip 6 by means of screws e, and is pivotally attached at its other end to the
strip a by means of a hinge-pin or pivot-pin d formed at the head of the spring
and in engagement with a hinge-plate fattached to the strip a.
To permit of the strip a being conveniently turned about its pivot to open and
close the clamp, I make the end a' of the said strip in the shape of a quadrant or
segment of a circle having its centre in the axis of the pivot-pin d'. With the
parts thus constructed and arranged, whilst the arc-shaped surface a¹ of the strip a
rests against the surface of the strip b, no force will be exerted by the spring
tending to turn the strip a in either one or the other direction, and the said strip
will, therefore, not be moved by the spring from any position in which it may be
placed, within the limits of such arc-shaped surface. In order to prevent lateral
movement of the strip a relatively to the strip b, and also, if desired, to limit the
angular movement of the said strip a, I find it advantageous to provide in this end
of the strip ba pin h extending into a slot or recess a² in the strip a.
The other end of the strip a is provided with a notch a³ to receive an india-
rubber band or ring j, or any other suitable expanding or elongating fastening of
metal or other suitable material is provided; the elastic force of this fastening
should be approximately the same as that of the spring d. The band j embraces
the strips a and b, and serves to hold them in their proper relative position, and
when the bearing surfaces of the strips are brought and held parallel to each other,
equalization of the pressure exerted by the expansive hinge is accomplished and
maintained upon all the contents of the file.
guides
To niore firmly secure the papers or the like in the clamp and to provide lateral
or supports for the strips a, b, and for fixing the papers conveniently in line,
sometimes fix in the inner side of the strip 6 spurs or pins & adapted to enter
corresponding recesses in the strip a.
b
To open the clamp, the band or ring j or other fastening is moved along on to
the extension or handle c, or otherwise removed or disengaged from the end of the
strip a, and the said strip is then turned about the pivot as indicated in Figure 2.
This movement can be very easily effected, as no force is thereby exerted on the
spring d. The paper or papers to be inserted in the clamp are held in line with
the edge of the bearing strip, or over the pins or spurs k on the strip b, and the
strip a is then pressed down thereon, so that the said pins will be forced through
the papers and will enter the recesses 1, and thus assist in holding such papers in
the clamp, and in preventing any relative lateral movement of the strips a and b, or
of the papers. The band or ring j is then passed over the end of the strip a and
into the notch a as shown in Figure 1, or other expanding fastening applied. The
pressing down of the strip a upon the bundle of papers placed between the strips,
will cause the expansion or extension of the spring d to a greater or lesser extent
according to the thickness of such bundle of papers, the pivot-pin d¹ and the
corresponding end of the strip a moving away from the strip 6; the band or ring j
or other expanding fastening, when passed over the end of the strip a, will be
similarly extended, so that the strips a and b will become and remain approxi-
mately parallel to each other whatever be the thickness of the bundle of papers,
provided, of course, that such thickness lies within the capacity of extension
permitted by the said spring at one end and by the expanding fastening at the
other end of the clamp or file.

page_text: The spring & shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 is made with three sections m, n, p.
The section m has the form of an arm with a swan-neck and extends from the
pivot-pin d to the section n, where the two parts of the wire are bent to form
spiral turns or coils; thence the two parts of the wire extend in the form of
another arm with a swan-neck, constituting the section p, the ends of the wire
being formed into loops p' to receive the screws e for securing the said spring to
the strip b. Each of the said arms is thus formed of two parts of the wire which
are united or separate at the end as the case may be. The said two arms engage
respectively with the two strips a and b in such a manner as to confine the said
strips and press them towards each other at this end when the clamp coutains a
paper or papers; and the said spring with the two arms is so formed that the power
of the spring will be utilized and the expansion of the said spring effected through
the said arms.
By making the spring d in the manner above described, I obtain amongst others,
the following advantages, riz.-I obviate the liability to lateral and endwise
displacement of the strips or members of the clamp; the pivot-pin can be formed,
as shown, in one piece with the spring; I ensure a long range of elastic extension
of the spring without interfering with the parallelism of the strips or members; and
I am enabled to obtain these results whilst making the spring of approximately the
same thickness and width as the clamp, thus producing a very advantageous spring
for the purpose specified.
In Figures 4 and 5, I have shown another form or modification of my improved
spring. In this form, the section m is composed of an arm having circular or spiral
coils or turns instead of a swan-neck, and the two parts of the wire forming the
central coils which constitute the section n are arranged so as to cross each other
at or about the middle of the said section, as shown at n in Figure 5, and thus
form a fulcrum or point of support about which the two levers formed by the
sections m and p of the spring will act during extension of the spring. This spring
is shown in an extended condition by dotted lines in Figure 4.
I can, if desired, vary the formation or curvature of that part of the said springs
between the two arms which engage with the strips. The construction of my improved
expansible springs can also he modified by bending or curving the arm which
carries the hinge-pin or pivot-pin d' so that the said pin can rest at the bottom of
a slot or notch in the strip a, the radius of the aforesaid quadrant or segment
being less, in this case, than the thickness of the said strip a. Or the two parts of
the wire forming the said arm may, if desired, be arranged to engage with a pivot-pin
extending through a hole in the said strip a.
I do not confine myself to the use of these special forms of expansible spring, as
it is obvious that other forms of spring can be used for the purpose above specified
without departing from the nature of my invention. For instance, instead of using
my improved expansible springs, I can, if desired, use a spiral spring on each side
of the clamp, attached at one end to the pivot-pin of the joint and at the other to a
pin or the like attached to the strip b.
My improved clamp or file can be made of strips of wood, metal or other suitable
material and be finished in any desired manner. If desired, the expansible spring
or springs are pivotally attached to both of the strips a and b.
I can, as above stated, replace the india-rubber band or ring; by any other
suitable expanding fastening of metal or other suitable material which will permit
the required expansion of the clamp whilst having a power of resistance
approximately equal to the force exerted by the expansible spring or springs.
The expansible spring or springs may be made of tempered steel, German silver,
phosphor bronze, or other suitable material, and may be made of a wire or strip of
any desired cross section, such as round, flat, square, hexagonal, etc.
Either of the strips or members of the clamp may be of any desired breadth.
By making one of them of ample breadth I can provide a suitable back or rest for
large papers, periodicals, music and the like. Or by making the two members of
the clamp of about the same length and breadth as the papers to be held therein, I

page_text: can adapt my improved clamp for preserving in a flat and smooth condition, music,
engravings and other articles. The clamp may, in this case, be provided, if desired,
with two or more expansible springs and with more than one fastening.
My improvements are also applicable to clamps or files combined with reading
stands or desks, in which case the strip b is replaced by the top of the desk or
stand, the strip a being arranged in the middle thereof or in any other convenient
position, and the spring d and fastening ; being secured to such desk or stand in
any suitable manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. A clamp or file for newspapers and the like, in which the relatively
movable clamping members or strips are confined at one end by one or more
expansible springs combined with a pivot or pivots, for the purposes above
specified.
Second. A clamp or file for newspapers and the like, comprising two relatively
movable clamping members or strips confined at one end by one or more expansible
springs combined with a pivot or pivots, and an extending or elongating fastening
for confining the said members or strips at or near the other end thereof, substantially
as, and for the purposes, herein before described.
Third. A clamp or file of the kind or class herein before described, comprising a
pivoted clamping member or strip the end whereof next the pivot is made in the
shape of a quadrant or segment of a circle having its centre in the pivot or axis
about which the said member or strip turns, substantially as, and for the purposes,
hereinbefore described.
Fourth. An expansible spring for the purpose above specified, having two
bearing arms for confining the clamping members or strips of the clamp or file
at one end thereof and for utilizing the power and effecting the expansion of the
spring, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Filth. An expansible spring having two bearing arms combined with one or
more hinge-pins or pivot-pins, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Sixth. The improved expansible spring formed substantially as described with
reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3, or to Figures 4 and 5 of the drawing, and for the
purposes above specified.
Seventh. The improved clamp or file constructed substantially as described with
reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing and operating as and for the purposes
above specified.
Dated this 21st day of July 1896
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.