Improvements in or relating to Writing Pads or the like.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 5th July, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 7th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 23rd May, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Writing Pads or the like.
I, FREDERICK WICH of 8 and 10 Great Titchfield Street, in the County of
Middlesex, Manufacturer and Importer of Fancy Goods, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to that class of writing pads which are suitable for using
Hitherto writing
upon the knees of the user for use when travelling and the like.
pads of this description have usually been made of a single board or base having the
various articles such as the writing pad of blotting paper, the ink boxes, receptacles
for holding pens, paper, envelopes etc., secured upon it. These were useful but they
were inconvenient for travelling purposes on account of the large space necessarily
occupied.
In carrying out my present invention instead of forming the foundation of the
pad of a single piece of wood or other material I joint it in one or more places
and at any suitable position or angle, so that it can be folded into two or more parts,
some or all of which may carry the necessary fittings. A convenient way of
carrying this invention into effect is to divide the board in two places parallel
with its major axis so that when folded it presents two wide flaps and a narrow
back, the narrow back providing sufficient space for the fittings carried by the two
flaps so that when folded the pad would be less than half its width when opened, and
the distance between the two flaps would be sufficient to conveniently accommodate
the fittings. With this arrangement I find that the board has no tendency to
collapse when in use while a strong and efficient hinge may be provided by the
leather or other material with which the board or foundation is covered, the hinge
portion being preferably formed at the upper surface of the foundation. Metal or
other special hinges may be employed if desired as well as hooks bolts, spring
catches or the like for fastening the pad in its open position and the hinges may
be placed at the front, back or centre of the board as required. I prefer to place the
fittings upon that face of the board which will be at the inside when folded as they
then are protected when the board is folded; nevertheless I may if preferred arrange
them on the opposite side and in that case the hinge may be placed at the back or
underside of the foundation, thus obviating all possibility of the board closing up
while in use upon the knees.
The pad of blotting paper may be placed in any desired position and so as to fold
or not to fold or it may be divided; the other fittings may be of the usual description
and arranged in any convenient manner.
Dated this Fifth day of July 1895.

page_text: DI PULTIVATION.
Improvements in or relating to Writing Pads or the like.
I, FREDERICK WICH, of 8 and 10 Great Titchfield Street, in the County of
Middlesex, Manufacturer and Importer of Fancy Goods, 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 :-
This invention relates to that class of writing pads intende.l to be placed upon the
knees of the user when travelling and the like. Hitherto writing pads of this
description have usually been made of a single board or base having the various
articles such as the writing pad of blotting paper, the ink boxes, receptacles
for holding pens, paper, envelopes etc., secured upon it. These were useful but they
were inconvenient for travelling purposes on account of the large space necessarily
occupied.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a plan of the improved writing pad in its open condition, and
Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively a plan and an end elevation of the pad closed.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
In carrying out my present invention instead of forming the foundation of the
pad of a single piece of wood or other material 1 joint it in one or more places
and at any suitable position or angle, so that it can be folded into two or more
parts, some or all of which may carry the necessary fittings. A convenient way
of carrying this invention into effect is as shown in the drawings to divide the
board A in two places as at A¹ parallel with its major axis so that when folded
it presents two wide flaps A and a narrow back A 2, the narrow back providing
sufficient space for the fittings carried by the two flaps A, so that when folded
the pad would be less than half its width when opened, and the distance between
the two flaps would be sufficient to conveniently accommodate the fittings. With
this arrangement I find that the board A has no tendency to collapse when in
use while a strong and efficient hinge may be provided by the leather or other
material with which the board or foundation is covered, the hinge portion being
preferably formed at the upper surface of the foundation. Metal or other special
hinges may be employed if desired as well as hooks, bolts, spring catches or the
like for fastening the pad in its open position and the hinges may be placed at the
front back or centre of the board as required. I prefer to place the fittings upon
that face of the board which will be at the inside when folded as they then are
protected when the board is folded; nevertheless I may if preferred arrange them
on the opposite side and in that case the hinge may be placed at the back or under-
side of the foundation, thus obviating all possibility of the board closing up while in
use upon the knees.
The pad of blotting paper B may be placed in any desired position and so as to
fold or not to fold or it may be divided; the other fittings such as the stationary
pockets C, ink bottle D, wafer box E, calendar F, pen wiper G &c. may be of the
usual description and arranged in any convenient manner.
The folding board A A 2 may be of wood, mill-board or any other sufficiently
rigid material.
I may secure the pad in its locked condition by means of a strap H and lock H'
secured respectively to the two flaps A as shown in the drawings or by other
equivalent means.
It will be seen that I am thus able to combine the advantages of a folding case
and a rigid or stiff board pad and that while this improved pad can be folded into
very small space it can also be opened out and present the advantages of a rigid
board when writing upon the knee; also the rigid boards A and A2 afford
particularly efficient protection to the fittings.

page_text: 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 folding "rigid board" writing pad substantially as described.
2. In a writing pad a folding board such as A A 2 substantially as and for the
purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
DL: L
A 1000
FRED. WICH.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.
FRED. WICH.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.