Year: 1899

page_text: A communication by JOHN LOUDON MCMILLAN, residing at Ilion, in the County of
Herkimer and State of New York, United States of America.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S.. M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both
in the County of Lancaster, 118, New Street, Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, and 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, 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:-
more
This invention pertains to the binding of loose sheets to form books, and
especially designed to meet the requirements of record offices, banking and
mercantile establishments, and the like, where under existing conditions it is
the general practice to make entries in manuscript. By the employment of loose
sheets it is made practicable to produce the records in typewriting, with the same
ease and facility as obtains in other type-writing; and with the aid of this
invention these sheets can be bound into book form, without any danger of
becoming loosened, misplaced, or surreptitiously removed, the completed book
presenting a finished appearance differing but slightly if at all from ordinary
record books of similar general style.
The accompanying drawings illustrate this invention, and in these-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a completed book embodying the novel
features;
Figure 2, a similar view showing the book in a partially completed state;
Figure 3, a perspective view of a folded sheet and its retaining strip;
Figure 4, a cross section through the sheet and strip:
Figure 5, a perspective view showing the single sheet or 'half sheet,' its
retaining strip, and co-operating members of the binder, the several parts recited
being separated to show their construction more clearly;
Figure 6, a sectional view illustrating the manner of applying the attaching
strips to single sheets or 'half sheets.'
Figure 7, a modified form of the compressing band.
The greater legibility of typewriting as compared with manuscript, the larger
quantity of matter that may be written in given space, and the greater rapidity of
work, have long recommended typewriting as a substitute for manuscript in the
making of records generally; but for various reasons it has not yet been introduced

page_text: to any considerable extent in "book work' or for writing in bound volumes.
Machines have been specially designed to perform this work but they are large heavy
and expensive, require considerable care in adjusting them to working position and
in subsequent manipulation, and up to the present time have not been adopted
to any considerable extent.
This invention aims to give the same freedom, ease and rapidity of operation
that attend the ordinary use of typewriting machines; or in other words to
permit the work to be typewritten under precisely the same conditions as any other
matter, and thereafter to be bound in book form as fast as the sheets are printed,
thus preserving them, and presenting the matter in convenient shape for inspection
or examination as the record is produced.
The means whereby this end is attained will now be explained in detail.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, it will be seen that there is a book cover comprising
the sides or boards 1 and 2, hinged to a curved back 3, in essentially the usual
manner of making book covers. The size, material and design will of course
vary according to the use for which the book or the binding is intended, the
drawings representing one suitable for record books for wills, deeds and the like,
or for mercantile records and accounts.
To each side or board 1 and 2 there is attached by rivets or other suitable
fastenings, a metal plate 4, one edge of each plate being rolled into the form of a
barrel or hollow cylinder 5, as seen in Figures 1. 2 and 5, the barrels 5 lying
along the line of the hinges or joints connecting the boards to the back, on the
inside of the cover, as shown. Each barrel or cylinder 5 is cut away at intervals
producing notches or spaces 6, each designed to receive one end of a binding
strip 7.
The binding strips 7 are alike in form and -dimensions and each consists of a
comparatively stiff strip of metal, preferably tempered spring steel, which may
conveniently be of from one quarter to one half of an inch in width and of a
length proportionate to the desired thickness of the completed book. One end of
each binding strip 7 is fashioned into a barrel or hollow evlinder 8, of the same
diameter as the barrels 5 of plates 4, and of a length to freely enter but to fill the
notches or spaces 6. The several binding strips have their barrel ends entered
into the notches 6 of the plate 4 attached to front board 1. and are hinged thereto
by a rod 9, passing axially through the aligned barrels, and secured against
escape by tongues or spurs 10, struck or cut from the metal of barrel 5 near each
end and pressed inward across the open interior thereof, just outside of or beyond
the ends of the rod 9, as seen in Figure 5.
The binding strips 7 are curved longitudinally to conform approximately to the
curvature of the back 3, their temporarily free ends being fashioned into hooks or
open barrels 11, as seen in Figures 2 and 5.
It will be noted upon referring to Figures 1, 2 and 5 that there are more notches
or openings 6 than there are binding strips 7, the drawings showing five of the
former and three of the latter, though the number of each may vary as desired.
The spaces not occupied by binding strips are designed to receive elastic bands 12,
which may be of webbing containing elastic threads, or, as is preferred, of india
rubber, without webbing or covering of any kind. These hands are preferably
continuous or endless, like the broad' flat clastic bands used about packages of
papers, and they are placed in their notches in plate 4 at the front of the cover.
previous to inserting the rod 9, so that said rod shall pass through each hand and
retain it in position, as seen in Figure 5; or they are of the form shown in
Figure 7.
At the point furthest from the rod 9, each band 12 is furnished with a metal
tab 13, here represented as a piece of sheet metal having an opening for the band,
and a slit proceeding thence to the end or edge of the tab, so that it may be
opened to admit the band and thereafter closed together to retain it in place. In
the drawing, the band is shown reduced in width where the tab is applied, for the
double purpose of preventing the tab from shifting its position, and bringing it

page_text: within the width of the band. Obviously, a wire tab may be used, or one of any
other common form, though that shown is preferred.
If the paper of which the book is composed be thin, it is feasible to employ the
folded or double sheets and to print upon them in a typewriting machine,
particularly if no carbon copies be made at the same time; but as it is desirable to
employ rather heavy and stiff paper for books of the character noted, it becomes
important to provide means for securely binding single or half-sheets.'
For the purpose of making the sheets fast to the binding strips 7, there is
provided for each sheet, whether a folded or a half sheet, an attaching strip 14, of
thin metal or alloy, or of other thin and tough material. Copper, brass and
phosphor bronze all answer quite well, but German silver is found to be perhaps the
most satisfactory when all considerations are taken into account.
Each attaching strip is made of a length advisedly a little less than that of the
sheet, and is formed with a series of ears 15 projecting from one edge in plane with
the body of the strip.
The length of the ears will depend upon the use of folded sheets or of half
sheets, being quite short in the former case, and somewhat longer in the latter.
In Figure 4 a folded sheet is shown with a series of narrow slits 16 along the
line of folding, the size and location of the strips corresponding with those of the
ears 15 of the attaching strip 14.
Each ear 15 is provided with a long narow perforation 17, to receive either a
binding strip 7, or a compressing band 12, the openings 17 being arranged to
register accurately with the binding strips and with the compressing bands, as
indicated in Figure 2.
Under a prior construction a similar attaching strip was employed with folded
sheets, but a number of sheets were carried by a single strip. Such construction
entailed an undue amount of labour, and required great care to ensure the proper
sequence of pages when bound into book form. Under the present construction an
attaching strip is employed for each sheet, folded or single, and thereby the
difficulties encountered under the former plan are entirely obviated. When using
folded sheets the openings 17 are made close to the edge of the strip from which the
ears spring, as shown in Figure 3, so that there shall be no space for movement
of the sheets between the attaching and the binding strips. It is, however, deemed
highly preferable to employ single or half sheets, because of the greater ease and
regularity with which typewriting may be done thereupon, especially when carbon
copies are being made at the same time. This has long been desired, but so far as
my correspondent is aware has not been successfully attained heretofore in a
binder of the general character here proposed. Under the present plan, however,
it is readily accomplished by making a slit or narrow cut 21 through the sheet from
face to face at a distance from the binding edge sufficiently to leave due width of paper
to give adequate strength. In practice this is found to be from about a quarter to
a third of an inch, though no precise limits are imposed by the conditions of
use
The attaching strips for use with the half or single sheets have ears 15 of
a length to reach from the slits 21 to a point somewhat beyond the edge of
the sheet where they are provided with openings 17 like those of the shorter
ears.
By referring to Figures 4 and 6, it will be seen that the attaching strip and
its ears lie wholly on one and the same side of a given leaf when used with the
folded sheet: whereas with the single or half sheet the ear passes through to and
lies on the opposite side of the leaf from that on which the body of the strip
stands. With the folded sheets there is consequently a smaller percentage of the
thickness made up of or occupied by the attaching strips than with the single
sheets; but by reason of the outward curvature of the hinge or portion of the cover
connecting the boards and the back, said space is sufficient to accommodate the
extra thickness without making it apparent in the general appearance of the
book

page_text: In many if not in most places where such books will be used it will happen that
they require to be examined or consulted from time to time during their formation
or growth. If the sheets were merely provided with attaching strips, strung
upon the binding strips, and there left free to play between the covers, they would
speedily be torn or injured. It is to prevent this that the compressing bands 12
are provided.
As explained, these are of elastic material, preferably a good quality of india-
rubber, and they are of such cross section as to necessitate the application of
moderate force to draw them through the openings of the ears 15 provided to receive
them. In the act of drawing endwise upon the bands 12 they are elongated, which
elongation has the effect of reducing the cross section of the bands and facilitating
their passage through the ears 15, without abrasion or cutting. When drawn
through the attaching strip last applied, said strip and the sheets and strips
below it are pressed down to place and the bands 12 are released. In returning
to their natural shape, they simultaneously contract lengthwise and expand
crosswise, the expansion causing them to bind in the openings 17, and the con-
traction causing the outermost strip to be drawn firmly down upon those below it,
thus compressing the pack and binding all firmly together.
By this simple device the sheets or leaves, whether single or folded, are kept in
a firm compact body, like the leaves of an ordinary book well bound, and they may
be examined, turned and handled with the same facility and freedom as the
leaves of completely bound volumes. This feature is not possessed by any prior
binding device of which the inventor has any knowledge, and is of marked
importance, overcoming as it does one of the chief obstacles to the use of type-
written records in mercantile establishments, record offices and like places.
After the attaching strips 14 are strung upon the binding strips 7, which is
done by passing the perforated ears over the hook-shaped ends 11, a second rod 18,
is passed through the barrel 5 of the plate 4 attached to the back cover or board 2,
and through the hooks or open barrels 11, thus bringing and securing the parts
in proper relative position and giving the regular book form to the binding.
By referring to Figures 1 and 2 where the rod 18 is shown detached, it will be
seen that said rod has one end slightly tapered or pointed to facilitate its passage
through the barrels and the binding strips, and that at the other end it is furnished
with a head or lateral projection 19 which serves both to limit the longitudinal
movement of the rod, and to facilitate its withdrawal.
A short distance below the head there is formed a circumferential groove 20,
which so nearly severs the upper end of the rod from the main or body portion
that it may be readily broken off when desired. The groove is so located that
when the short section is removed, the remaining portion of the rod shall just
fill the space between the spurs 10 of the barrel 5, which may therefore be
bent inward against or over both ends.
If the binding is intended to be permanent the front rod 9 will be secured in
this manner at the outset; but if it be the purpose to remove the sheets from the
cover to another and permanent binding, the rods will both be left of full length
and with the heads 19.
If it be deemed important to prevent removal of sheets during the formation of
a volume by the addition of sheets from time to time, means may be provided for
locking the rods in place, the key being placed in the custody of a responsible
keeper. As this will constitute subject matter of another application, the device
will not be described herein.
When the volume is completed, the rods, shortened as above explained and
secured by the inturned spurs 10, will preclude removal of sheets under any
conditions that can ordinarily obtain where such books are used; but the result
may be further ensured by placing a drop of solder in the cavity over each spur 10,
so that it may not be pried out to release the rod.
Other checks will be provided in the way of paper with special watermarks,
check numbers, etcetera, the latter being varied for each book of given pattern

page_text: and dimensions, but as these do not pertain strictly to the mechanical construction
of the book, further description is not necessary here.
The plates 4 may be concealed by suitable facings if desired, or they may be
left uncovered; but in any event will be secured to the boards in such manner as to
preclude detachment under any probable conditions of use.
The employment of spring binding strips 7 gives an elasticity to the back and
binding, and a flexiblity to the book, possessed only by exceptionally well bound
volumes of the usual type, permitting the lines to be read easily from end to end.
They also yield to any pressure sufficient to compress the curved back 3, which
latter may be of binders' board metal, or other suitable material, covered or
concealed by the outer binding material, as desired.
It is not essential, though quite desirable, that the binding strips be of spring
metal. They may be rigid and unyielding; or they might even be flexible but
devoid of resilience or practically so, provided their ends be as described. . The
construction set forth is, however, deemed best.
When the proper number of sheets is reached, the rubber bands, are or may be
cut off, leaving no part of them in view.
Obviously, the binder may be utilised as a temporary holder of the sheets, but
this is not deemed advantageous.
The leaves being of uniform size and slitted by suitable machinery so that the
slits of all sheets register perfectly, the edges of the sheets exactly register at the
ends, while the curvature of the binding strips 7 gives to the front or outer edges
the same curve possessed by books bound in the ordinary way.
In Figure 7 is shown the compressing band 12 of single thickness with an
opening at one end, thinned and pointed to permit its ready passage through the
perforated ears, without the aid of a tab. This construction may be found
preferable in practice to that shown in other figures; but the invention contemplates
any elastic band of this general nature.
:
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated
to me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. The herein described binding for loose sheets; comprizing a back 3; boards 1
and 2 hinged to said back; binding strips 7, attached at one end to the cover
and having open barrels or hooks at the other end; a notched barrel or tube 5 made
fast to the cover; a rod adapted to pass through the barrel 5 and the open barrels
or hooks of the binding strip; a series of attaching strips 14 provided with perforate
ears 15 to receive the binding strips; and sheets slitted to receive the ears 15 and
applied thereto, substantially as described.
2. A binding device, comprising a back 3; covers 1 and 2 flexibly_connected
therewith a series of binding strips hinged to one of said covers and provided
at the opposite end with barrels or hooks; a barrel secured to the other of said
covers and having openings to receive the hooks of the binding strips; a rod to
pass through said barrel and secure the binding strips therein; and attaching
strips adapted to be made fast to sheets or leaves and provided with perforate ears to
receive the binding strips.
3. In a binder or book cover, the combination of a back; covers or boards
flexibly connected therewith; spring strips extending from board to board at or
near the point of their connection with the back and permanently curved to
conform to the rounding of the back; and means substantially such as described
for attaching said spring strips to the binder or cover.
4. In a binder or book cover, the combination of a back; boards or covers
flexibly connected with said back; and spring strips extending from one board
to the other to carry the sheets of which the book is composed, and permanently
curved to conform to the back and to give the proper curve to the front of the
book body.
5. In combination with a book cover, spring binding strips permanently curved

page_text: to conform to the curvature of the back, connected at one end to the cover, and
having a free end provided with an opening; and a fastening rod adapted to pass
through the openings of the rods and to secure the free ends of the binding strips
to the cover.
6. In combination with a cover provided with plates 4, having barrels 5 provided
with openings 6, binding strips 7 provided with barrels 8 and hooks or open
barrels 11; and rods 9 and 18 for securing the binding strips to the plates 4.
7. In combination with a cover provided with barrels 5 having openings or
notches 6; binding strips 7 provided with barrels 8 and hooks or open barrels 11;
attaching strips 14 provided with ears 15 having perforations 17; and rods 9 and 18
for attaching the binding strips to the barrels 5.
8. In combination with a cover or binder; a hinged binding strip to carry or
sustain the sheets; a barrel secured to the cover and having an opening to receive
the free end of the binding strip; a rod passing through the barrel and serving to
attach the binding strip thereto; and spurs projecting into the barrel and serving
to prevent withdrawal of the rod.
9. In combination with a book cover, a plate secured thereto and provided with a
barrel 5 having an opening 6; a binding strip 7 provided with a barrel 8 seated in
the opening 6; a rod passing through the barrels 5 and 8; and spurs 10 projecting
into the barrel 5, and serving to prevent withdrawal of the rod, substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
10. In a binder, the combination of a cover; binding strips secured to said cover
and extending from board to board thereof; attaching strips strung upon the
binding strips; and compressing devices serving to press the attaching strips
closely together.
11. In combination with a cover; binding strips attached thereto; attaching
strips having perforated ears some of which are strung upon the binding strips;
and elastic bands attached to the cover and having one end free to be passed through
ears of the attaching strips, substantially as for the purpose explained.
12. In combination with a suitable cover, a series of perforated attaching strips
adapted to carry leaves or sheets to be bound; and an elastic band attached to the
cover, larger in cross section than the perforations, whereby it is adapted to be
drawn through the perforations of the attaching strips when elongated and to
expand laterally when released; causing it to bind in the perforations and by
contracting longitudinally, draw the attaching strips firmly together.
13. In a binder, the combination of a suitable cover; binding strips within said
cover single or unfolded sheets or leaves having perforations through them from
face to face near the binding edge; and attaching strips having perforate ears
passing through the sheets or leaves and trung upon the binding strips,
substantially as described.
14. In a binder, the combination of a series of single or unfolded sheets or
leaves, and a series of attaching strips, one for each sheet or leaf, each strip
having a tongue passing through one leaf from face to face at a point a short
distance inward from the binding edge.
15. In combination with a suitable cover provided with a notched barrel; a
binding strip having a barrel to enter the notch of the main barrel; and a
hinge rod for connecting the two barrels provided with a head or projecting portion
to reach outside the barrel, and with a notch below said head to facilitate the
removal thereof.
16. In combination with a suitable cover, a series of attaching strips 14 provided
with perforate ears 15; and an extensible and contractile band arranged to pass
through the perforate ears, substantially as and for the purpose explained.
17. In combination with a suitable cover, a series of attaching strips provided
with perforate ears; and an elastic band of larger cross section than the perforations
of the ears, but provided with a tab of smaller section.
18. In combination with a suitable cover, a series of resilient binding strips
adapted, to support the sheets or leaves; and means for firmly connecting both

page_text: ends of said strips with the cover, said binding strips being permanently curved in
the direction of their length; whereby the front edges of the leaves are caused to
assume the curve common to books bound in the ordinary way.
Dated this 15th day of February 1899.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.