Improvements in Indexes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Aug., 1889-Accepted, 7th Sept., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Indexes.
We JOHN, PAUL FINDLEY (Minister of the Gospel) and SAMUEL HARRIS KUNES
(Farmer) both of Blanchard, Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States of
America do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention is an improvement in the indexing of books, whereby the book
may be conveniently and accurately opened to a central or intermediate point,
practically dividing the book into two portions or side sections, and by which the.
book when so opened will have portions of the leaves of such sections exposed.
corresponding to each desired division and subdivision of the subject matter of the
hook so that the user can conveniently turn to any portion of the book without the
necessity of leafing or turning the leaves of the book as is common in the use of
ordinary indexes. The invention is adapted for use in connection with bibles,
hymnals, dictionaries, cyclopedias &c.
The index of the book is formed in practically two side sections and has what may
be termed an intermediate starting point. The index then extends in two sections
along the opposite sides of the book beginning at the top of the opposite margin
and extending downward cutting away the margin of the book to a depth gradually
increasing so that the book when closed presents in its front edge a channel extending
fron near its upper to its lower end and gradually widening towards its lower end
where it is of a width nearly commensurate with the thickness of the book.
The index ranges on opposite sides of the intermediate starting point, so that
when the book is opened the entire index is exposed to view at the opposite sides of
the book. To expedite the convenient opening of the book to the intermediate point
I provide a nick or nicks cut in the edges of the book and terminating at one of the
leaves which mark the intermediate starting point.
The index is formed in practically a number of series each series comprising a
heading and subdivisions.
The heading which for instance if the invention is used in connection with the
New Testament may be "The Acts," is on the page next to the last sheet of the'
book "Acts," which sheet or page is stepped providing an exposed portion to receive
the mark indicating the subdivision or chapter. If the sheet or page next in advance
of the page is included in the chapter which is indicated in the next preceding page
thereto, such page is cut similarly so as to show no exposed portion while the next
preceding page is properly cut in stepped form..
The stepping of the leaves is effected by cutting in from the edges of the leaves to
the desired point thence down, then in again and thence down to the lower end of
the leaves, the exposure of each leaf as desired being effected by properly varying
the lengths of cuts and in the different leaves.
It may be desirable to strengthen the exposed portions of the leaves by pasting
some material, such as leather, thereon and inscribing the letter or other indicating
characters on the said material.
In small books whose margins are too narrow to be cut to form the index the
latter may be made on separate strips of suitable material and secured to the leaves
of the book.
In the application of the invention to dictionaries the initial letters form the
headings and are placed like the names of the books in the illustration above referred
to, while the second, or if desired second and third letters of the words on the page
or pages are placed similarly to the numbers of the chapters of the books.

page_text: From the foregoing the application of the improved index to any book capable of
the division into headings and subdivisions under such headings will be readily
understood.
The index may be cutein the foot of the book or.in both the sides and foot of the
book if so desired..
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION;
Improvements in Indexes.L
We, JOHN PAUL FINDLEY, (Minister of the Gospel) and SAMUEL HARRIS KUNES,
(Farmer) both of Blanchard, Centre County, Pennsylvania, 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 :-
Our Invention is an.improvement in the indexing of books, whereby the book.may
be conveniently and accurately opened to a central or intermediate point, practically
dividing the book into two portions or side sections, and by which the book when so
opened will have portions of the leaves of such sections exposed corresponding, to
each desired division and subdivision of the subject matter of the book so that the
user can conveniently turn to any portion of the book without the necessity of
leafing, or turning the leaves of the book as is common in the use of 'the ordinary
indexes. The invention is adapted for use in connection with bibles, hymnals,
dictionaries, cyclopedias, etc., but as the nature and character of the invention will be
fully understood from a description of it as applied to the New Testament, it will be
illustrated in such connection.
In the drawings, figure 1 is a face view of a.New Testament opened centrally and.
indexed on one side, according to our invention; the opposite side being also partially
indexed, according to the invention; Figure 2 is an edge, view of the book; Figure 3.
is a detail view illustrating the application. of the invention to a part of the book of
the "Acts of the Apostles; "and figure 4 shews, in detail, the nicks for facilitating
the accurate opening of the book to the interniediate, starting, point, all of which
will be described.
.
The index of the book A is formed in practically two side sections and has what
may be termed an intermediate starting point a, occurring, in the present instance
at the beginning of the "Epistle of St. Paul. to. the Romans." The index then
extends in two sections, B B along, the opposite sides of the book; beginning at the
top of the opposite margin and extending, downwards, cutting, away the margin of
the book to a. depth gradually increasing..so, that. the book when.closed presents in
its front edge a. channel C extending, from..near its upper to its lower. end and,
gradually widening towards its lower end where it is of a width nearly commensurate
with the thickness of the book. The index,, it. will be seen, ranges on opposite sides
of the intermediate starting point, so that when the book is opened, as shewn.in
figure 1, the entire index is exposed to view at the opposite sides of the book. To
expedite the convenient opening of the book to the intermediate point, we provide a
nick or nicks D cut in the edges of the book and terminating at one of the leaves
which mark the intermediate starting point. The index proper, is best shewn in.
figure 3.
The index is formed in practically a number of series b, each series comprising a
beading and subdivisions 62, the heading in the example shewn being the name of
the book; in figure 3 "The Acts," and the subdivisions the numbers of the different
chapters in said book.. The heading, it will be seen, is on the page, next to the last

page_text: sheet of the book "Acts," which sheet or page 344 is stepped at 6³ (see figure 3)
providing an exposed portion to receive the mark indicating the subdivision or
chapter 28. As the sheet or page 342 next in advance of the page 344 is included
in the chapter 27, which is indicated in the next preceding page thereto, such
page 342 is cut similarly to sheet 344, shewing no exposed portion, while the next
preceding page is properly cut in stepped form.
The stepping of the leaves in effected by cutting in, at 1, from the edges of the
leaves to the desired: point, thence down, at 2, thence in again, at 3, and thence
down, at 4, to the lower end of. the leaves, the exposure of each leaf as desired being
effected by properly varying the lengths of cuts 1 and 3 in the different leaves, as
will be understood from figure 3.
་
It may be desirable to strengthen the exposed portions of the leaves by pasting
some material, such as leather, thereon and inscribing the letter or other indicating
characters on the said material.
In small books whose margins are too narrow to be cut as shewn to form the index,
the latter may be made on separate strips and secured to the leaves of the book.
Such detached strips may be of steel, brass, leather, or other suitable material.
As an assistant in the school, in the study of languages, and in the pulpit, the
invention will be found particularly valuable.
In the application of the invention to dictionaries, the initial letters form the
headings and are placed like the names of the books in the illustrated application of
the invention, while the second, or, if desired, second and third, letters of the words
on the page or pages are placed similarly to the numbers of the chapters of the
books, as shewn in figures 1 and 3.
From the foregoing, the application of the improved index to any book capable of
the division into headings, and sub-divisions under such headings, will be readily
understood. While the index is shewn as cut in the sides of the book, it is manifest
it may be cut in the foot thereof or in both if so desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is ;
1. A book having its index formed in sections on opposite sides of a central or
intermediate starting point and having the leaves of each of said sections cut away
from said starting point to expose in the direction thereof portions of the leaves
corresponding to each desired division and subdivision of the subject matter of the
book, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2. A book having an index formed in sections on opposite sides of a central or
intermediate starting point and provided with a nick or nicks cut in the edge of the
leaves and terminating at one of the leaves which mark the intermediate starting
point, substantially as set forth.
3. A book having an index arranged in sections on opposite sides of an intermediate
starting point, each section being formed of a number of series facing towards the
intermediate starting point, and each of said series having a heading and subdivisions
thereunder corresponding to the desired divisions and subdivisions of the subject
mattor of the body, all substantially as and for the purposes specified.
4. A book having its index formed in sections on opposite sides of a central or
intermediate starting point, the ends of both sections of the index adjacent to said
starting point being arranged at the same end of the leaves of the book, whereby the
edge of the book is formed with a channel gradually widening towards one end,
substantially as set forth.
5. A book having its index formed on opposite sides of a central or intermediate
starting point and baving the leaves of each said sections cut away from said starting
point to expose in the direction thereof portions of the leaves corresponding to each
desired division and subdivision of the subject matter, the ends of both said sections
adjacent to the starting point being arranged at the same end of the leaves of the

page_text: book, whereby the edge of the book is formed with a channel gradually widening
towards one end and a nick or nicks. D being provided in the edges of the leaves, and
arranged to terminate at one of the leaves, which mark the intermediate starting.
point, all substantially as and for the purpose specified..
Dated this 2nd day of August 1889...