A so-CALLED BOOK CLASP OR IMPROVED FASTENING OF BOOKS, BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO POCKET BOOKS, LEDGERS, BLOTTING CASES, AND SIMILAR ARTICLES, WHERE LOCKS, BOLTS, OR CLASPS ARE EMPLOYED
Year: 1858

page_text: Scaled the 1st November 1858, and dated the 29th May 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Schloss at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 29th May
1858.
1, JOSEPII SCHLOSS, of 75, Cannon Street West, City, Merchant, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "A so-CALLED BOOK CLASP OR
IMPROVED FASTENING OF BOOKS, BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO POCKET BOOKS, LEDGERS,
BLOTTING CASES, AND SIMILAR ARTICLES, WHERE LOCKS, BOLTS, OR CLASPS ARE
EMPLOYED," to be as follows:-
This new kind of clasp is intended for fastening books and other objects,
either by bolting only, or by both bolting and locking. It chiefly consists of
a main plate or box, coutaining the various parts of a mechanism for bolting
and locking, such as springs, trigger plate, with suitable cams, slots, or
notches, etc., which are worked upon by a trigger placed sideways or cross-
ways, and outside of said main plate, and for locking by a key, which is
introduced on its outside plate or-scutcheon. Said main plate is made of any

page_text: convenient size and shape, with a hinge plate, which is rivetted or screwed to
one side or cover of the book or object to be fastened, whilst the opposite side
of the book or other article is provided with a suitable plate or band, containing
a gudgeon or hasp, which enters into the slot or opening of the bolt when
brought near it. To obviate the expansion or widening of books, and chiefly
of bulky books, said main plate can be made expansive by means of a slide,
which is fixed by one side to the hinged part of the book or article to be
fastened, whilst the other side works inside the main plate by means of a cam
and notch. The same end may be attained by inserting a metallic spring or
other elastic body between the main plate and that part of the object on which
it is to be fixed. Moreover, said clasp or lock may be made to constitute
what is commonly called a puzzle lock, by means of one or more knobs on
the plate acting on catches inside the main plate, or by any other convenient
combination.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joseph Schloss in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th
November 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
SCHLOSS, of 75, Cannon Street West, City, Merchant, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date. the Twenty-ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Joseph Schloss, Her special licence that I, the said Joseph Schloss, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Joseph
Schloss, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
terni therein expressed, should and lawfully.might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "A SO-CALLED BOOK CLASP OR
IMPROVED FASTENING OF BOOKS, BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO POCKET BOOKS, LEDGERS,
BLOTTING CASES, AND SIMILAR ARTICLES, WHERE, LOCKS, BOLTS, OR CLASPS ARE
EMPLOYED," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Joseph
Schloss, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same

page_text: was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Joseph Schloss, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement,
reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, that is to say:-
My Invention relates to certain improvements in clasps, locks, or fastenings
for books, portfolios, &c., by bolting only, or by both bolting and locking. It
chiefly consists of a main plate or box containing various parts of mechanism
for bolting and locking, such as springs, trigger plate, with suitable cams,
slots, or notches, &c., which are worked upon by a trigger placed sideways or
crossways, and extending outside of said main plate; and for locking by a key,
which is introduced on its outside plate or guard plate. Said main plate is
made of any convenient size and shape, with a hinge plate, which is rivetted or
screwed to one side or cover of the book or other object to be fastened, whilst
the opposite side of the book or other article is provided with a similar plate
containing a hasp, which enters into the slot or opening of the bolt when
brought near it. To obviate the inconvenience arising by the expansion or
widening of bulky books, the aforesaid lock or fastening can be made expansive
by means of a slide, which is fixed on one side to the hinge plate, whilst the
other side, having a slot of any desirable length, works inside the main plate,
on a stud or pin projecting on the inner surface of the guard plate. The same
end may be attained by inserting a metallic spring or other suitable body
between the main plate and that part of the object on which it is to be fixed.
Moreover, said clasp or lock may be made to constitute what is commonly
called a puzzle lock, by means of one or more projections acting on catches
inside the main plate, or by any other well-known or suitable contrivance.
In order to explain my said Invention as completely as possible, I now
proceed to describe the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the
same into practical effect, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the numeral figures and letters of reference marked thereon
respectively, as follows:-
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is an isometrical view of a book with my improved look or fastening
attached. Fig. 2 shews the internal arrangement of the parts, D being the
cross-way trigger, working by means of two slots and guide pins, as shown
at a, a, are two springs which keen the cross trigger Din vnsition sh
attached. Fig. 2 shews the internal arrangement of the parts, D being the
cross-way trigger, working by means of two slots and guide pins, as shown
at a, a, are two springs which keep the cross trigger Din position; the

page_text: opening for the hasp; it will be readily seen that by pressing on the cross
trigger D the springs 9, 9, yield, and so release the hasp at c. Fig. 3 shews
the guard plate of Fig. 2, with the pin a, and the slot in the sliding plate, as
shown at b, to allow of extension. Fig. 4 is another arrangement of the said
fastening, differing from Fig. 2, inasmuch as it is actuated by a key, the drill
pin shewn at K having a catch fixed to it, which partly revolves. The head
of the drill pin is square, and the pipe of the key has also a corresponding
opening; the catch is shewn in its position in the cross trigger, thereby keep-
ing it fixed till released by the catch being removed. Fig. 5 is the guard
plate, with suitable hole for the introduction of the key. Fig. 6 is also an
arrangement of my improved fastening, the cross trigger D being held in
position by the bolt m being shut. In the Drawing the bolt is withdrawn, the
harp being held only by the cross trigger, which is kept in position by the
spring g till released by pressure. Fig. 7 is the guard plate of Fig. 6, with
suitable hole for the introduction of the key. Corresponding letters shew
corresponding or similar parts throughout all the Figs.
Having now fully described the nature and object of my said Invention,
together with the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the same into
practical effect, I hereby declare that I do not limit myself to the means
shown in the Specification and Drawing, reserving any known method of
locking the cross trigger, whether on the lever or any other well-known plan;
but what I do claim is, the combination of cross trigger as herein-before
described, together with the expanding slide.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Schloss, have hereunto. set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
JOSEPH SCHLOSS. (L.S.)