IMPROVEMENTS IN REMOVEABLE BOOK COVERS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Frederick Redfern, of the General Patent Office,
4, South Street, Finsbury, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the
Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN REMOVEABLE BOOK COVERS." A communi-
cation from abroad by William H. Douty and Charles H. Drake, both of
Shamokin, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
Sealed the 7th October 1879, and dated the 8th April 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Frederick Redfern at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th April 1879.
GEORGE FREDERICK REDFERN, of the General Patent Office, 4, South Street,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN REMOVE-
Finsbury, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent.
ABLE BOOK COVERS." [A communication from abroad by William H. Douty and
Charles H. Drake, both of Shamokin, Pennsylvania, United States of America.]
This Invention relates to certain improvements in removeable book covers of that
class in which the back and sides may be together disconnected from the filling or
contents, so that the said contents may be removed and filed away, and a new set
of pages or contents supplied to the old cover, also to a device by which the cover
or binding of books may be removed when the book is filled and placed upon
another book or filling in a secure manner.
In carrying out the improvements the outer sides or stiff leaves of the cover are
provided with inwardly-projecting eyes or staples, and the sides of the removeable
contents with grooved metal strips having transverse slots adapted to receive the
said staples, so that when the outer covering is applied to the back and sides of the
contents the staples project through the slots of the strips and the outer covering is
secured to the contents by a longitudinal rod running through the portion of the
staples projecting through the sides of the filling or contents; or the stiff leaves of
the cover are provided with inwardly projecting staples or studs, and the sides of
the removeable contents with slotted and tongued locking-strips of metal adapted
to receive and hold the staples or studs of the covers, so as to hold the contents and
cover together. The parts are locked securely by a screw.
Instead of staples, slots, and tongues, the herein before described plate may be
provided with L shaped studs, and the slotted and tongued locking strip with

page_text: longitudinal slots which act in a similar manner to and upon the same principle as
a tongue and eye for holding the said plates together.
To retain the book cover and contents together and prevent their accidental
separation small screws are inserted through holes in the strip and enter screw-
threaded holes in a projection on the strip.
Instead of the screws a flat spring can be attached to the strip in such position
that its free end will spring down behind the staple or stud when the parts are in
place.
It is to be understood that the relative position of the tongues and eyes may be
reversed if desired, the eyes being upon the filling and the locking strip on the
cover.
For some removeable book covers a peculiar construction and arrangement of
dovetail or T shaped metal strips are arranged upon the cover and correspondingly
grooved metal strips arranged upon the filling or contents, which receive the dove-
tail or T shaped strip, a spring seated stud being employed to lock the parts
together.
The removeable cover consists of two stiff sides flexibly connected in the middle
by the back. To the inside edges of this cover are securely attached the dovetail or
Tshaped metal strips, and upon the outer surface of the sides of the filling or
contents of the book are attached flanged or grooved metal strips having a groove
or opening adapted to receive by a longitudinal movement the T shaped or dove
tailed projection of the strips.
To retain the filling or contents within the cover against accidental displacement
upon the inside face of the stiff side of the filling is arranged a flat spring carrying
a stud which passes through a perforation in the grooved strip, and which when
the cover and contents are adjusted to their places enters a perforation in the dove-
tail or T shaped strip to lock the parts securely together. To release the parts the
spring is lifted and the stud withdrawn from engagement with the T shaped
strip.
The device by which the cover or binding of books may be removed when the
book is filled and placed upon another book or filling in a secure manner consists of
metal strips with slots and corresponding metal strips with T shaped upright
moveable studs attached to flexibly hinged wings connected to the filling at the
inner edge of its back.
The studs on one set of strips pass through the slots in the corresponding strips,
and turn to secure a fastening.
The said strips may be reversed from the outside cover to the inside of the false
cover to protect the book when removed from the outside cover or binding. A
lock spring is attached to the slotted metal strip, locking the strips into position
automatically.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Frederick Redfern in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 8th October 1879.
GEORGE FREDERICK REDFERN, of the General Patent Office, 4, South Street,
Finsbury, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. IMPROVEMENTS IN REMOVE-
ABLE BOOK COVERS." A communication from abroad by William H. Douty and
Charles H. Drake, both of Shamokin, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
This Invention relates to certain improvements in removeable book covers of that
class in which the back and sides may be together disconnected from the filling or
contents, so that the said contents may be removed and filed away, and a new set
of pages or contents supplied to the old cover.
But to make the Invention communicated to me better understood I will proceed
to describe the same by reference to the accompanying Drawing.
The object of the first part of this Invention is to furnish a device by which the
cover or binding of books may be removed when the book is filled and placed upon
another book or filling in a secure manner, and is illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, and
4 of the Drawing, Figure 1 being a view of a book with the cover attached;
Figure 2 is a view of the cover detached; Figure 3, the filling, shewing arrange-
ment for attaching to the cover; and Figure 4, a view of detached parts.
In the said Figures A, A, represent metal strips with slots x; B, B, corresponding
metal strips with T-shaped upright moveable studs attached to flexibly hinged
wings connected to the filling at the inner edge of its back. The studs on the
strips B pass through the slots in the strips A, and turn to secure the fastening.
The strips A and B may be reversed from the outside cover to the inside of the
false cover.
C represents the moveable studs; D is a false or inside cover to protect the book
when removed from the outside cover or binding; E is a lock spring attached to
the metal strip A, locking the strips into position automatically.
This Invention consists further in the peculiar construction and arrangement of
dovetail or T-shaped metal strips arranged upon the cover, and correspondingly-
grooved metal strips arranged upon the filling or contents, which receive the dovetail
or T-shaped strip, a spring-seated stud being employed to lock the parts together,
as hereinafter more fully described, and represented in Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and
11 of the accompanying Drawing, Figure 5 being a perspective view of the book
with the removable cover attached. Figure 6 is a perspective view of the cover
opened. Figure 7 is a perspective view of the outside of the filling or contents.
Figures 8 and 9, details of the strips D and B. Figure 10, a cross-section through
x, x, Figure 11. Figure 11, a longitudinal section through the locking devices
which fasten together the strips B and D.
In these Figures A represents the removeable cover, consisting of the two stiff
sides flexibly connected in the middle by the back a. To the inside edges of this
cover are securely attached the dovetail or T-shaped metal strips B.
C is the filling or contents of the book, upon the outer surface of the sides of
which are attached grooved or flanged metal strips D having a groove or opening
adapted to receive by a longitudinal movement the T-shaped or dovetailed projection
of the strips B.
In applying the filling or contents to the cover A the latter is folded, the con-
tents C placed endwise to the same between the sides of the cover, and the dovetailed
or T-shaped projections of the metal strips B made to receive the correspondly-
grooved strips on the filling, which latter is forced longitudinally up between the
sides of the cover to its place.
To retain the filling or contents within the cover against accidental displacement,
upon the inside face of the stiff side of the filling (see Figures 10 and 11) is arranged
a flat spring a, carrying a stud b, which passes through a perforation c, Figure 4, in
the grooved strip D, and which, when the cover and contents are adjusted to their

page_text: places, enters a perforation c in the dovetail or T-shaped strip B, to lock the parts
securely together. To release the parts the spring is lifted and the stud withdrawn
from engagement with the T-shaped strip.
In defining the scope of this part of the Invention with greater clearness, I would
state that I am aware that sheet-music, newspapers, and the like have been tied to
a slat, and the latter then slid into undercut grooves in a removeable back, and
claim is therefore only made to the combination of the cover and contents when the
one is provided with the grooved strips and the other with the dovetail or T-shaped
strips, located upon the sides of the cover and contents.
It is immaterial, however, as to the relative arrangement of these strips, as their
location may be changed, the strip B being placed on the filling, and the strip D on
the cover.
The improvements further consist in providing the outer sides or stiff leaves of
the cover with inwardly projecting eyes or staples, and the sides of the removeable
contents with grooved inetal strips having transverse slots adapted to receive the
said staples, so that when the outer covering is applied to the back and sides of the
contents the staples project through the slots of the strips, and the outer covering is
secured to the contents by a longitudinal rod running through the portion of the
staples projecting through the sides of the filling or contents. This part of the
Invention is illustrated in Figures 12, 13, 14, and 15 of the Drawing, Figure 12
being a view of the contents or filling of the book with one of the outer leaves or
sides thrown back. Figure 13 is a view of the cover with both sides thrown back.
Figure 14, details of the metal strips and rod for connecting the cover and filling.
Figure 15 is an edge view of the connected cover and filling, with one side in
section.
In these Figures A represents the outer cover, in the stiff sides of which are
incorporated metal strips B, Figure 14, having staples or eyes a. These strips are
securely rivetted to the sides of the cover, with the staples projecting inwardly, as
shewn in Figure 13.
C represents the filling of the pages or contents of the book, which is also provided
with stiff sides to which upon the inside are rivetted metal strips D. These strips
have a longitudinal groove in the middle, and are provided with short transverse
slots b, adapted to receive the staples a of the outer cover.
Now in applying the removeable cover A, it is fitted to the filling C so that the
staples a of the cover register with and pass through the slots b in the strip attached
to the filling, in which position the outer cover and filling of the pages are securely
locked by a rod E, which is slid lengthwise into the groove of the strip D, and
through the projecting eyes or staples of the outer cover.
For removing the cover, all that is necessary is to slide the rod E out of the
groove, and the parts are immediately separated.
This Invention consists further in providing the stiff leaves of the removeable
book cover with inwardly projecting staples or studs and the sides of the remove-
able contents with slotted and tongued locking strips of metal, adapted to receive
and hold the staples or studs of the covers so as to hold the contents and cover
together. The parts are locked securely by a screw as hereinafter described. This
part of the Invention is illustrated in Figures 16, 17, and 18 of the Drawing,
Figure 16 representing a portion of the contents of a book with the slotted locking-
plate connected therewith; Figure 17 shews a portion of the cover, having the
staples connected to it; and Figure 18 is a section shewing the two parts connected
together.
A represents the outer cover in the stiff sides of which is incorporated or rivetted
a plate a, which has projecting from it staples 6 on the inner side; B represents the
filling of the pages or contents of the book which is provided with stiff sides, on
one side of which is rivetted a metal strip c. This strip c is formed with slots d
corresponding in position to the staples 6 of the cover when the parts are together,
which slots are cut in a shape to form a tongue e.
In applying the cover A to the contents B the staples b will pass through the

page_text: slots d of the strip c, and a slight endwise movement of the two parts in opposite
directions will cause the tongues e to enter the staples b, and the book and cover
will be connected.
Instead of the staples b, slots d, and tongues e, it is sometimes advantageous to
provide the plate a with L-shaped studs f, and the plate c with longitudinal slots g,
which act in a similar manner to and upon the same principle as a tongue and eye
for holding the said plates together.
To retain the book cover and contents together, and prevent their accidental
separation, small screws i are inserted through holes k in the strip c, and enter
screw threaded holes in the projection / on the strip a.
Instead of the screws a flat spring h can be attached to the strip e in such posi-
tion that its free end will spring down behind the staple b or stud f when the parts
are in place, but no claim is made to such means of fastening.
It is to be understood that the relative position of the tongues and eyes may be
reversed if desired, the eyes being upon the filling, and the locking strip on the
cover.
Having thus described the nature of the Invention communicated to me, and the
manner of performing the same, I wish it to be understood that what is claimed
and intended to be protected by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,
Firstly. The combination of the metal strips A provided with slots F, lock
spring E, the metal strips B having moveable studs C, with the inner and outer
covers of a book, whereby a speedy and substantial means of attaching or removing
the cover is attained, as herein before described, and represented in Figures 1, 2, 3,
and 4 of the accompanying Drawing.
Secondly. The combination with the removeable cover A and the filling C of the
grooved or flanged strip D and the T-shaped or dovetail strip B placed the one
upon the sides of the cover and the other upon the sides of the filling, substantially
as and for the purpose hereinbefore described, and represented in Figures 5 to 11 of
the accompanying Drawing.
Thirdly. The locking device, consisting of a spring a and attached stud b in
combination with the strips B and D, the cover A, and filling C, substantially as
and for the purpose described and represented in Figure 11 of the accompanying
Drawing.
Fourthly. A removeable book cover provided with inwardly projecting staples
or eyes a in combination with the filling or contents, having attached to its outer
sides the slotted strips D, together with a locking rod E arranged to slide through
the staples when projected through the slots of the said strip, substantially as and
for the purpose described, and represented in Figures 12, 13, 14, and 15 of the
accompanying Drawing.
Fifthly. The combination of the plate a attached to the cover A, and provided
with staples b and the plate c attached to the filling B, and provided with the
slots d and tongues e, substantially as and for the purpose described, and represented
in Figures 16, 17, and 18 of the accompanying Drawing.
Sixthly. The combination of the plate c provided with the holes k and the plate a,
having the screw threaded projections and the screws i for preventing the acci-
dental separation of the said plates, substantially as described and represented in
Figures 16, 17, and 18 of the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Frederick Redfern, have hereto set
my hand and seal, this Eighth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.