Improvements relating to Binding Means for Loose Sheets of Paper, Cards, Pamphlets, and like Articles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 16th May, 1899-Accepted, 8th July, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Binding Means for Loose Sheets of Paper,
Cards, Pamphlets, and like Articles.
I, REGINALD HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert Haddan & Co., of 18, Buckingham
Street, Strand, W.C., London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention, a communication to me from abroad by Lucena M. Morden, of
Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon, United States of America, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to binding means for loose sheets of paper, cards,
pamphlets, and like articles, and for blank books of the separate-leaf class, in
which a number of loose sheets of paper, having perforated binding edges are
removably secured between a base and cover, enabling the removal, substitution,
and insertion of single sheets, or sections of paper, at will. The manifold advan-
tages of such blank books so readily impress themselves upon the thinking world
as to render any reference thereto unnecessary, but as such books are known to
me, there efficient use is still hampered by numerous structural imperfections
causing annoying inconveniences.
The object of my invention is to overcome these, defects. The particular
defects which I have in mind, and the manner in which I remedy the same, may
be briefly stated as follows: One of the chief features of this kind of blank book
is that by its use one may remove imperfect or completed matter for destruction
or preservation, and substitute other blank leaves on which to correct or com-
plete such imperfect matter, or on which to rebegin or continue the particular subject
which one desires to tabulate, chronologize, or essay. The user of such book is never
without blank space on which to continue his work in uninterrupted and classined
order; and this is true regardless of the number of subjects which are being
handled in the same book. One of the primary features of such blank books
is the means employed for removably binding or securing the loose leaves between
the base and cover. Whatever contrivance be employed for this purpose, it is a
part of the efficient use of the book that the sheets of paper may at all times be
easy to write
so arranged as to lie perfectly flat without holding, to make it
thereon; and, as a second essential feature to avoid disarrangement of the leaves,
the binding contrivance should be adapted to permit any portion of the leaves
to be removed and substituted, while still securely holding the sheets not to be
disturbed. The binding, or filing rings, used by me as a part of my invention
are especially adapted for the purposes intended, and the outer covers of my book
are so joined together as to be easily handled and adjusted, at the same time pre-
senting a neat appearance.
These features are attained by the binder invented by me, the construction
of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, referring to which,
Figure 1, is a partial longitudinal section of the base and cover and a quantity
of loose leaves secured between the same by means of hinged binders; the dotted

page_text: lines representing the covers and the leaves as folded under the base for the purpose
of illustrating that the same may be completely turned under.
Figure 2, is a perspective side elevation of one of my newly invented books;
the binding rings in this instance varying in construction somewhat from that
seen in Figure 1, but still being alike in its principle of operation. And this
figure also shows the use of a binding strip, h, and back strip, i, in combination with
a base, a, and cover, g, as will be more particularly described in the body of the
specification.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the same parts illustrated in Figure 2.
Figure 4, is a plan of one of my file or binding rings.
Figure 5, is a partial plan of the base of my book, showing the upper edge
provided with slots, a knuckle, and a pair of binding rings hinged in such slots.
Figure 6, is an enlarged elevation of one of my binding rings with parts broken
away to show those portions of such rings which are of special construction.
The letters designate the parts referred to in the description of my invention.
In my invention the separate sheets may be bound between outer covers, which I
will designate from each other by calling the under cover, a, the base; and the
upper cover, g.
The base, or under cover, a, has two slots, b, b, cut in the upper edge, a¹, and
to this edge is attached a knuckle, k, made of a strip of folded metal corre-
spondingly slotted. The pintle, c, is inserted in said knuckle, and by means
thereof the file or binding rings, d, d, are hinged in place, the pintle passing
through an eye, e, in the base of each ring. This contrivance enables the rings
to accommodate themselves to the arrangement of the paper. The construction
of the rings is shown in Figure 6, being made of two pieces or members, ²;
the U-shaped lower part comprises two straight parallel arms and an arched
base and the head, ³, is a locking bar, similarly arched as the base of the
member, d, to which it is pivotally attached. The extremity of the left arm
of the member, ², has a socket, 4, and the corresponding end of the bow, d³,
a dependent pintle, d, inserted in such socket. The middle portion of such
pintle is reduced so as to form a peripheral groove, ; and, the wall of said
socket, opposite to said groove, is slightly dented to form a stud, d, and pro-
jecting into said groove and retaining the pintle in place. The free end of the
locking bar is concaved to form a vertical groove, f, the lateral extremities, fe,
of which form small jaws embracing the extremity of the right arm of the body
of the ring, and by so doing lock the contacting ends when the bar is closed.
The extremity, ds, is rounded to facilitate the passing of the leaves over the
rings.
When opening the ring the locking end of the bar is sprung out of its engage-
ment with the contacting arm. The shape given to my rings in the drawings,
is merely adopted as calculated to give the greatest convenience and freedom of
I do not, however, limit myself to any particular shape.
use.
The base or under cover and the upper cover are joined by means constituting
one of the important features of my invention. The base, a, is made of inflexible
material; the upper cover, g, is made in part of inflexible material joined to
which is a flexible binding strip, h, being in fact an extension of the upper cover
to about the length of the base, and the base and upper cover are
joined by means of a flexible back strip, i, one end of which is secured to the
binding edge of the base away from the knuckle so as not to interfere with the
movement of the binding rings; and the other end of such binding strip being
attached to the upper cover at h¹, the place of union between the inflexible cover, g,
and the flexible binding strip, h. The function of the flexible binding strip, h, is
to hold the cover, g, in place without interfering with any convenient arrange-
ment of the leaves. The flexible cover, h, is perforated at its binding edge so
as to be engaged by the binding rings. All this is illustrated in Figure 3, where
a section of the leaves are shown turned under the base; and the relation and

page_text: I ne
peration of all these parts of my invention are illustrated in Figure 2.
ack strip, i, may be used or not, as found convenient. It is intended more as
finish to my book than otherwise, the upper and lower covers being securely
On the other hand the
ined together, as will be observed, without its use.
ck strip, i, may be used for uniting the upper and under covers, and the
inding strip, h, omitted.
From the construction described, it will be observed that when using my inven-
on as a blank book, the ring-binders, while securely holding the papers, at
he same time permit any part of the same to be folded into a flat pad without
ny bulging. This flat-lying feature of the book does away with unnecessary
abor in writing, notably in this respect, that there is no holding of the forward
caves, or even of the book itself necessary. Then in removing, filling in, or
therwise rearranging the leaves, the sheets not to be disturbed are not disjoined
but remain secured. In fact, as is obvious, no portions of the book, other than
hat which to be rearranged, is released from the binding, which, practically
t all times, holds the book together even while removing a portion of its leaves;
and it will be observed that the writer has the full use of the page, no portion
hereof being covered by the binding device. The books are to be manufactured
of varying convenient sizes, and when to be used for several subjects sections of
leaves are separated from each other by means of cardboard partitions of graded
lengths, the edges of which are suitably labelled.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:--
1. In a binder, in combination, a base having a recess or slot in its upper edge;
a knuckle attached to such edge; and a file ring hinged in such recess, the file
ring having an opening portion, and means for keeping such opening portion
closed, substantially as described.
2. In a binder, in combination, a base having a recess or slot in its upper edge;
a knuckle formed of a strip of folded metal, correspondingly slotted, and
attached to such edge; and a file ring in such recess, hinged in such knuckle,
the file ring having a hinged opening portion, the free end of which opening
portion, and the contacting end of the main body of the ring are adapted to lock
when brought in contact with each other upon the closing of the ring, sub-
stantially as described.
3. A blank book comprising, in combination, a base and cover joined thereto
by a strip of flexible material, leaving the inner or binding edge of the base free;
recesses or slots in such inner edge; a knuckle made of a strip of folded metal,
or clip, correspondingly slotted, and attached to such edge; and file rings in such
recesses, hinged in such knuckle, the file rings having a hinged opening portion,
the free end of which opening portion, and the contacting end of the main body
of the ring, are adapted to lock when brought in contact with each other upon
the closing of the rings; and a number of loose sheets of paper inserted on such
file rings, their binding edges being suitably perforated, substantially as described.
4. A binding or file ring, composed of two members, one of which comprises
two branches united in an arched base, and the other being a locking bar, the
extremity of one of said branches having a socket, d, and the corresponding
end of the locking bar a dependent pintle, which is journalled in such socket,
and means for retaining the pintle in place, the outer or free end of such locking
bar, and the extremity of the corresponding branch being adapted to lock when
O brought in contact with each other upon the closing of the ring.
5. A binding or file ring, comprising an approximately U-shaped body, one
of the arms of which has a socket; a locking bar, having a pintle journalled in
such socket; a groove on the periphery of the pintle; a stud dented in the wall
of the socket and entering such groove; and the contacting ends of the locking
5 bar and of the body being adapted to lock when the bar is closed.

page_text: G. A binding or file ring comprising an approximately U-shaped body, one
of the arms of which has a socket; a locking bar having a pintle journalled in
such socket; a groove on the periphery of the pintle; a stud dented in the wall
of the socket and entering such groove; the free end of the locking bar having
a vertical groove, the extremities of which constitute jaws engaging the con-
tacting extremity of the body when said parts are brought in contact with each
other.
7. A blank book, comprising in combination, and inflexible base or'
under cover; an inflexible upper cover of lesser length than the base;
a flexible binding strip, as h, suitably perforated and inserted on the
binding rings, such strip being an extension of such upper cover to about the
length of the base; a slot in the binding edge of the base; a knuckle attached
to such edge and correspondingly slotted; a file or binding ring hinged in such
slot, and having an opening portion, the free end of which, and the contacting
end of the body of the ring, are adapted to lock when brought in contact with
each other upon closing the ring; and a number of loose sheets of paper, the
binding edges of which are suitably perforated and inserted on such binding ring.
8. In a binder of the class specified, an inflexible base or under cover; an
inflexible upper cover of lesser length than the base; a flexible binding strip,
as h, being an extension of the upper cover to about the length of the base; and
a flexible back strip joining the base and the upper cover, substantially as de-
scribed.
9. A blank book, comprising in combination, an inflexible base or under
cover; an inflexible upper cover of lesser length than the base; a flexible binding
strip, as h, suitably perforated and inserted on the binding ring, such strip
being an extension of the upper cover to about the length of the base; a flexible
back strip joining the base and the upper cover, such back strip being attached
to the base clear of its inner or binding edge, and being attached to the upper
cover at the place of union between the latter and the said binding strip; a
slot in the binding edge of the base; a knuckle attached to stich edge and corre-
spondingly slotted; a file or binding ring hinged in such slot, and having an
opening portion, the free end of which and the contacting end of the body of the
ring are adapted to lock when brought in contact with each other upon closing
the ring; and a number of loose sheets of paper, the binding edges of which are
suitably perforated and inserted on such binding rings.
1000